Real Madrid News
Manchester United considering €60 million bid for Casemiro – report
For years now, Casemiro has been a constant feature in Real Madrid’s starting lineup. Perhaps for the first time since his move to the Bernabeu, the Brazilian faces direct competition for a starting spot this year.
The arrival of Aurelien Tchouameni throws many questions regarding the defensive midfielder’s continuity. This could even open a small window of fragility in his future at the club.
According to reports from The Telegraph, Manchester United are willing to offer €60 million to sign the midfield star. The English administration eye Casemiro as the ideal candidate to reinforce their weak midfield and communicated their interest yesterday.
Despite the arrival of Tchouameni, Ancelotti remains confident that he can utilise both players’ services. The manager even suggested that he could deploy the two players simultaneously.
“Casemiro & Tchouameni can play together as a pair of pivots.”
It would be surprising if the Brazilian maestro left the UEFA Champions League winning side for a team that is lingering at the bottom of the Premier League table. Yet, one remembers the case of Raphael Varane who made the same move just over a year ago.
Ancelotti will continue using Casemiro in upcoming games being quite sure of the veteran’s continuity. Yet, the final stretch of the transfer marker often springs surprises and one must not rule out a sudden turn of the tables.
Last season, Casemiro made 31 league appearances for Real Madrid scoring one goal and providing three assists. Moreover, he averaged close to a whopping 15 defensive actions per game.
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
