Real Madrid News
Real Madrid want to sign Moroccan wonderkid for free, ready to fast-track him through youth ranks
According to a recent update from Mario Cortegana, it has come to light that Real Madrid are working on a move to sign 16-year-old Ajax sensation Abdellah Ouazane and are so impressed by his potential that they plan to place him directly into the U19 setup, skipping the U17 level entirely.
Ouazane, one of the brightest prospects in the famed Ajax academy, has already made his mark in the Dutch club’s U19 side this season.
Despite his young age, the forward has notched three goals in just four appearances, a feat that has caught the attention of scouts and analysts across Europe, including those at Valdebebas.
Real Madrid are heavily impressed
Although the move is not complete yet, reports suggest that there is strong optimism within the Real Madrid camp that a deal can be reached.
Interestingly, it has also been learned that Ouazane’s contract with Ajax runs down in June and Real Madrid intend to sign him on a free transfer.
While it was initially unclear whether Ouazane would join Juvenil A (U19) or Castilla (Real Madrid B), Cortegana now affirms that the player would be slotted directly into the U19s, highlighting the high regard in which he is held by the club.
Real Madrid have already established contact with the Ajax hierarchy and are exploring how best to structure a deal that would bring Ouazane to Spain. As a result, there is enough confidence in Madrid that the transfer will go through.
For now, what is certain is that there has been contact between the parties involved. For someone who was named best player at the African Under-17 Cup and has also played for the Netherlands Under-15 team, Real Madrid’s interest is legit and a deal could be finalised soon.
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.
