Real Madrid News
Real Madrid attacking prodigy does not wish to play as a centre-forward – report
The fall of Real Madrid’s attack in a span of two weeks has been unbelievable. A series of departures has left the department in shambles and there is now an urgent need to replenish its resources.
Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio were two of the team’s most impactful players over the past year.
Meanwhile, Mariano Diaz and Eden Hazard gave the manager much-needed cushioning by serving as backup options. With all four players now gone, Ancelotti only has Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo Goes to count on in the final third.
The initial plan was to sign Harry Kane this summer to complete a lethal front three. However, Perez no longer sees that plan as viable as he prioritises the arrival of Kylian Mbappe next summer.
Needless to say, the pressure is now on Carlo Ancelotti to manage an entire season without a world-class number nine. One of the options naturally considered was to deploy Rodrygo as centre-forward and sign another player to play on the right wing.
According to reports from journalist Alfredo Matilla the Brazilian is not keen on making such a swap. He considers the role of a striker to be his least favourite and prefers to be used on the wing.
The 22-year-old scored nine goals and provided eight assists in 34 La Liga appearances for Real Madrid last season. Further, he averaged 1.4 key passes per game and created ten big chances.
Purely in terms of ability, Rodrygo has shown to possess the X-factor in front of goal. Yet, it is clear from the few games he played at centre-forward that he disconnects from the buildup at that position.
It is indeed in Ancelotti’s best interest to deploy the Brazilian prodigy on the flank and maximise his impact. A new signing for the centre-forward position thus becomes non-negotiable.
Aurelien Tchouameni has had an exciting start to his career at Real Madrid. Since joining the club for almost €80 million last summer, the young Frenchman has now become a pivotal figure in Real Madrid’s midfield unit.
However, prior to his move to Santiago Bernabeu, the midfielder was closely linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
In a recent interview, Tchouameni opened up on his links to PSG but revealed his decision to join Real Madrid.
Aurelien Tchouameni on PSG links
Talking about speculations linking him to PSG, Tchouameni said (h/t Madrid Zone), “PSG? Frankly, I thought about it. It’s a very big European club, we want the French clubs to succeed.”
“But honestly, when Real Madrid calls you, it’s very complicated to say no,” Tchouameni added.
The midfielder was linked with a move to PSG during his time at AS Monaco. Les Parisiens wanted to sign the youngster as part of their plans to reinforce the midfield unit.
Tchouameni, though, ended up opting for a move to Real Madrid, which turned out to be a prudent decision from the midfielder’s end.
Tchouameni’s career at Real Madrid
Aurelien Tchouameni made a total of 50 competitive appearances during his maiden season at Real Madrid.
Although the Frenchman was not entirely a first-team regular in Carlo Ancelotti’s setup, his stature in the team is expected to grow in the coming years.
Especially as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric move on at the end of the season, there is scope for Tchouameni to become a first-team regular in the Real Madrid midfield in the years to come.
The former AS Monaco starlet has already played a crucial role in the starting eleven so far this season and it is only going to continue as the season progresses.
