Real Madrid News
Real Madrid have reached an agreement to sign Tchouameni for €100 million
For close to a month now, Aurelien Tchouameni and Real Madrid have flirted rather publicly over a transfer for the French midfielder. Updates have rolled in on a daily basis, and an agreement seemed close by.
According to reports from David Ornstein, Los Blancos have finally reached an agreement with AS Monaco over Tchouameni’s move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
The total package offered by Carlo Ancelotti’s side for the Frenchman is reported to be more than €100 million including the transfer fee of €80 million and bonuses.
With the financial side of the deal now sorted, the clubs are now finalizing the paperwork and other formalities involved. The official announcement is only a matter of time.
Fabrizio Romano further adds that the contract will see the youngster at the club until 2027. When official, Tchouameni will become one of the most expensive signings in the club’s history.
This puts an end to PSG, Manchester United, and Liverpool’s pursuit of the midfielder. The player has always maintained Real Madrid as his priority and will now realise his dream of donning the famous white jersey.
Tchouameni made 35 league appearances for Monaco in the 2021/22 season of Ligue 1. In that period, he recorded three goals and two assists.
His impressive performances at the club level earned him back-to-back starts for the French National team this week against Denmark and Croatia.
The 22-year-old is expected to replace Casemiro in the long term and form the core of Real Madrid’s future midfield with Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde.
However, Ancelotti will now have to decide if he uses the €100 million Frenchman as a regular starter or sticks with the Brazilian defensive midfielder for the coming season.
Real Madrid News
Rayo Vallecano manager names the one Real Madrid figure he would remove from the team
Rayo Vallecano face a daunting trip to the Santiago Bernabeu to take on a wounded Real Madrid this weekend.
Life after Inigo Perez has not been kind to the Vallecas-based club, who have already had to travel to Camp Nou and now face a trip to the home of their city giants.
Speaking ahead of the game (h/t Madrid Xtra), Rayo Vallecano manager Benat San Jose was asked which Real Madrid player he would like to remove from the team before this weekend’s game.
Surprisingly, his choice was not Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior or Thibaut Courtois.
“Mourinho”
Asked which Madrid player he would take out of the upcoming contest, Benat jokingly chose the man sitting on the opposition bench.
“Which Real Madrid player I’d remove from the match against them? Mourinho,” Benat said with a laugh.
The answer might have been delivered jokingly, but the Rayo coach immediately made clear just how highly he rates the Portuguese manager.
“He’s one of the best managers in history,” he added.
It is significant praise ahead of Saturday’s meeting at the Bernabeu.
Madrid’s squad contains enough individual quality to give any opposition coach several obvious answers, but Benat instead highlighted the influence Mourinho can have over the entire team.
That has become particularly relevant since the Portuguese coach returned to Madrid. His early work has focused on making a talented group function with greater collective discipline.
Courtois and Madrid’s attack also praised
Benat did not stop with the manager.
“They also have one of the best GKs in history and one of the best attackers in history,” he said.
Benat will definitely have seen how Thibaut Courtois played against Inter Milan in midweek and will hope that version does not turn up again this weekend.
Even when teams manage to create opportunities against Madrid, they still have to beat one of the defining goalkeepers of his generation.
At the opposite end, Madrid possess attacking quality capable of turning a match on its head.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham can all decide matches single-handedly.
Madrid have a point to prove
Madrid are coming off a disappointing loss to Real Betis in La Liga last weekend and will come into this game with a point to prove.
They will want to ensure that the loss to the Andalusian club was a one-off and that they return to winning ways against Rayo.
Their title rivals, Barça, have been flying high in the league, scoring goals and picking opponents apart for fun.
Madrid need to ensure that they do not hand too much early incentive to Barça, and it remains to be seen how Los Blancos fare against Rayo Vallecano.
