Aurelien Tchouameni has decided to remain at Real Madrid, agreeing to a new five-year contract with the Spanish club, according to reports from RMC. The deal will extend his stay at the Bernabeu until 2031, effectively ending speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United.
The France international’s future had been subject to intense scrutiny, with reports suggesting a possible departure following a reported altercation with teammate Federico Valverde earlier this year that required hospital treatment for the Uruguayan. Manchester United emerged as a potential destination, however, a transfer failed to materialise.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Tchouameni was ‘never close’ to joining United, primarily due to financial disagreements. Real Madrid were reportedly seeking a transfer fee in the region of €130 million, a figure United were unwilling to meet. Furthermore, the player’s wage demands were deemed excessive by the Premier League club, who are prioritising value for money in the current transfer window.
The decision to retain Tchouameni was also influenced by new Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, who has been granted significant input into the club’s transfer strategy this summer. Despite the incident with Valverde, Mourinho reportedly made it clear he wished to keep the 26-year-old in his squad. Tchouameni is currently with the French national team, poised to reach his 50th international cap against Morocco.
Manchester United are continuing their search for midfield reinforcements following the departure of Casemiro. Previous targets such as Elliott Anderson are now set to join Manchester City, while Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes are reportedly attracting interest from Tottenham and Arsenal respectively. United have secured the signings of Ederson from Atalanta for approximately €40 million and Andrey Santos from Chelsea, but are still seeking a more established player. Questions remain over whether the club’s ownership group, Ineos, will authorise the significant investment required to attract a player of that calibre.
