Real Madrid News
Tchouameni reveals Mbappe’s attempts to lure him to PSG, hails Real Madrid teammate
Following his inclusion in the France squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, Aurelien Tchouameni has opened up on his career in a recent interview with L’Equipe, in which he discussed his move to Real Madrid, his teammate Luka Modric as well as Kylian Mbappe.
Hailing Modric for his ability on the ball, Tchouameni said: “As a defensive midfielder, I can tell you that getting the ball away from Luka Modrić’s feet is very complicated. When you manage to take the ball from a guy like that, afterwards, you can take it from anyone.”
The Frenchman also offered a key insight into his move to Real Madrid, revealing that he was approached by his compatriot Kylian Mbappe, who urged him to join PSG in the summer transfer window.
“At the end of last season, I had a very interesting conversation with Kylian Mbappé. He wanted to know what I was planning to do. He told me: ‘Come on, you have to come to PSG!’ But my choice was already made a long time ago,” he revealed.
Tchouameni went on to reaffirm his happiness at Real Madrid and feels he is exactly where he needs to be, adding, “I feel like I am where I have always wanted to be. I’m where I need to be.”
When asked whether the €80 million price tag weighs on his mind and leads to pressure, the young midfielder replied:
“No. In my head, I’m made for this. This is my destiny. That means I’ve worked hard, that I’ve made sure I got here. Now that I’m here, what do I do? I have to earn the starting spot, I have to perform well, and I have to win titles. So I’m not here to watch…”
Despite being 22 years old, Tchouameni is known for his maturity and calm demeanour on the field. “Everybody does stupid things, nobody is perfect. But yes, one of my main characteristics is calm, always trying to be in control,” he said about what makes him stand out.
Formerly of AS Monaco, Tchouameni has featured in 17 competitive matches since joining Real Madrid in the summer. When asked about the criticism he has faced in his career, the midfielder referred to Cristiano Ronaldo, indicating that it is merely a part and parcel of a footballer’s journey.
“When you see the sh*t people say about a legend like Cristiano Ronaldo for example, then who am I to be safe from criticism?”
On his adaptation in the Real Madrid dressing room, the 22-year-old said: “We are a group and we are not all here to be friends, but to respect each other and win. I’m lucky to have a lot of people in the group who speak French, so it’s easier to adapt.”
Tchouameni also touched upon the departure of Casemiro from Real Madrid in the summer, saying: “If Case was still here, I wouldn’t play as much. Anyway, in Madrid, if you’re not good, you don’t play. So if I’m playing a lot of games, it means things are going well.”
It is astounding that despite being the biggest club in Spain, Real Madrid do not have many Spanish players to show for it.
Los Blancos do indeed boast of a special diversity in the dressing room, but their lack of locally trained players could pose problems according to MARCA.
The Spanish outlet confirms that UEFA does not mandate the inclusion of any minimum number of locally grown players for a club. However, the Spanish federation stipulates that a club in Spain must boast of at least eight players who meet a specific set of conditions.
Of the aforementioned eight candidates, there must be at least four players who have spent three seasons or 36 months at the club between the ages of 15 and 21.
Currently, only Nacho Fernandez, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez, Federico Valverde, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Mariano make up the required number on that front.
The problem, however, arises with the condition for the other four players in the list of eight. RFEF stipulates that the second set of four players must have completed at least 36 months in teams attached to the federation of Spain between the ages of 15 and 21.
Only Jesus Vallejo, Alvaro Odriozola, Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos tick the aforementioned box. However, all four players have uncertain futures at the club and are well-placed to depart in the summer.
There are thus big decisions to be taken over the transfer strategy for June. Real Madrid can work ways to ship all four players out, it would require the re-integration of players like Sergio Arribas, Miguel Gutierrez or Fran Garcia to ensure the fulfilment of the criteria.
With both Vallejo and Odriozola seemingly frozen out of Ancelotti’s plans, their departures from Santiago Bernabeu appear inevitable. Thus, the management could be forced to renew one of Asensio or Ceballos come June.
