Real Madrid News
Manchester United monitoring two Real Madrid midfielders as potential market opportunities
Real Madrid have had a lot of back and forth throughout the summer regarding the futures of their existing midfield options.
This was closely linked with the fact that the club were linked with players like Bernardo Silva, whom they have successfully signed.
Both Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga have been considered potential exit candidates at various points, the former despite supposedly agreeing to a contract renewal.
Now, according to ESPN journalist Rob Dawson speaking on the United Stand, Manchester United are keeping tabs on the two Frenchmen as market opportunities.
Camavinga was offered around
Dawson mentioned that intermediaries sounded out Premier League clubs over Camavinga before the window.
“United were told before the summer that Real Madrid were going to look to try and get a few players out the door,” Dawson said.
“As far as I know, Camavinga was offered to Premier League clubs by intermediaries just to gauge interest,” he continued.
That fits with the uncertainty around the Frenchman’s role. Camavinga wants to remain at Madrid, but he has not yet established himself as an undisputed starter under Jose Mourinho.
His pre-season has not helped his cause either, with the 23-year-old failing to impose himself despite the opportunities afforded to him.
Tchouameni situation more complicated
Dawson also suggested that Tchouameni’s situation was different from that of Camavinga.
The French international is understood to have agreed a new long-term contract with Los Blancos, although there has been no official announcement so far from the club, creating an element of uncertainty around his future.
Manchester United are not necessarily pursuing either player aggressively, but are prepared to react if circumstances change.
“I think United are looking at those two as market opportunities,” Dawson said.
However, any deal would require several conditions to align.
“You have to be sure that they want to play for Man United, that they want to leave Real Madrid and they’re not just being forced out, you have to make sure that they fit into your wage structure,” he explained.
Rodri setback opens the door for both Frenchmen
Had Real Madrid managed to sign Rodri, it would have been almost certain that one of the Frenchmen would have had to leave the club this summer.
However, with the club missing out on the Spaniard, it leaves the door open for both players to win over Mourinho.
It could all depend on what Los Blancos decide to do between now and the end of the summer transfer window.
If Real Madrid go ahead and sign a new player for the holding midfield role, it could create a ‘market opportunity’ for Manchester United to capitalise on.
It remains to be seen whether Tchouameni or Camavinga leave in search of a new club in the coming weeks.
Real Madrid’s adventure so far under new coach Jose Mourinho has been far from perfect and this fact shouldn’t be lost even after the team’s brilliant comeback win over AS Roma in midweek.
However, there are areas where Los Blancos have shown a clear improvement under Mourinho, when compared to previous bosses such as Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.
One of those areas has been set plays, with Real Madrid appearing far more potent from set pieces this season.
A clear improvement from last season
As reported by Diario AS, the three goals in Rome, all from Arda Guler corners inside a seven-minute blitz, were the perfect advert for the work being done at Valdebebas.
Those strikes took Real Madrid’s set-piece tally to seven goals in just ten matches this season. Four of them have come in La Liga, one from a corner and three from free kicks, with the trio in Rome completing the haul.
It is a striking figure when set against last season’s return. Under Alonso and Arbeloa, Madrid managed 12 set-piece goals across the entire campaign, all in La Liga, split evenly between six from corners and six from free kicks.
On current trends, this side looks well placed to surpass that number comfortably.
The reason behind Real Madrid’s improvement
Attacking set pieces are led at Valdebebas by Pedro Machado, with the whole coaching staff involved and Mourinho himself giving the final green light on every routine.
Defending them, meanwhile, falls to Sami Khedira, though it is treated as a collective effort. Mourinho’s appreciation of that teamwork was clear when Bellingham headed in a Guler free kick against Espanyol, prompting the manager to leap up and embrace his assistants.
Machado, one of Mourinho’s most trusted lieutenants, has followed him from Fenerbahce to Benfica and now Madrid, part of a backroom team blending experience with young, ambitious talent.
On the pitch, Guler is the undisputed master when available, his left foot the key weapon, with Bernardo Silva, Trent Alexander-Arnold and even Diomande also trusted to initiate attacks.
Such meticulous strategy has helped Real Madrid turn into a potent side from set-pieces this season.
