For football supporters, young and old, there is an unspoken understanding about Real Madrid: generally speaking, they recruit who they want, when they want, and will only offload on their terms.
Whether it is the allure of continental success, the history of its famous white strip, or the sun and lifestyle of a vibrant city, for many, it is the holy grail of the European game.
When Manchester United acquired a 30-year-old Casemiro, a troubled side obtained a five-time Champions League winner and the definition of defensive assurance at the heart of midfield.
But for all of the good that Case brought during his four-season spell, this was not a player in his prime, despite what the mouth-watering financial package would attempt to convince you.
Fast forward to the present day, and Michael Carrick is awaiting a new-look engine room. Ederson is set to be the first arrival, as an Ineos-led sporting department continues to work towards securing Mateus Fernandes.
However, Spanish turmoil has laid the foundations for an unlikely possibility, and following Mario Cortegana’s confirmation that Madrid would consider offers for Aurelien Tchouameni, an opportunity has surfaced.
Could Manchester United actually acquire a prime Aurelien Tchouameni this summer?
At 26, Tchouameni is a marshal at the back of an impressive Madrid midfield, earning 49 appearances across all competitions and proving a costly absentee (suspension) during their Champions League quarter-final exit.
For France, he continues to excel, solidifying his 47th cap in a 3-1 victory over Senegal during the opening fixture of Les Bleus’ World Cup campaign.
Truthfully, we should be discussing one of the game’s greatest talents stepping into his prime years as a leader for Jose Mourinho’s side. Instead, we are digesting the possibility of his departure.
It seems bizarre to conceive of a player at this stage of his career who has remained relatively injury-free, barring the occasional sports-related setback.
But an ongoing rift with Federico Valverde boiled over into a physical altercation, where it is claimed the latter slipped, banged his head on a table, and was later diagnosed with a mild brain injury.
Madrid fined both players €500,000, Valverde missed the subsequent fixture against Barcelona due to medical protocols, and Tchouameni publicly declared that the media had sensationalised the entire event.
Still, Florentino Perez is determined to deliver a memorable summer window, and Cortegana claims that a midfield departure is necessary to make room for a creative signing.
Sensationally, he revealed that the Los Blancos hierarchy is willing to wave goodbye to their French star. And it just so happens that United have a Casemiro-shaped hole in need of filling.
As is now common knowledge, Elliot Anderson was the golden goose until Evangelos Marinakis revealed his financial requirements, putting an end to the possibility of his Old Trafford arrival.
Focus immediately shifted to Fernandes, a player long-admired at M16, and the prospect of luring one of the game’s brightest young stars.
Although some are frustrated by lengthy negotiations with West Ham and Spurs’ apparent willingness to pay preposterous money for a 21-year-old, Jason Wilcox and his team remain calm.
As has been the case for many weeks, we’re advised that Manchester officials are confident in their approach, given the players’ desire to join the club. Still, they refuse to pay beyond the terms of internal agreements.
Say what you will about closing a deal quickly; that would be ideal, but the same naysayers would be outraged if United approached a record fee for a man watching the World Cup from home.
However, a player of Tchouameni’s substantial ability and potential to immediately impact the team is not easily ignored. Should a glimmer of a possibility of his signature surface, United would not hesitate to act.
Sticking to a plan is one thing, and I applaud this, but identifying unique opportunities and acting in a manner befitting the football club is an entirely different dynamic.
Chart available at DataMB.football
Not only would the Frenchman instantly assume control of defensive duties, but his ability to dictate play with a forward-thinking mentality is regularly ignored.
From a ball-winning perspective, he ranks in the 77th percentile for possessions won, while crowning a remarkable number of duels to hold a top-three percentile place in Spain.
But his distribution is a significant addition to his base capabilities, ranking in the 89th percentile for progressive passes and in the top 4% for forward passes and pass completion percentage.
Simply put, Tchouameni is the type of player you reconsider your internal squad framework for, and if there is a shred of an opportunity to capitalise on Madrid’s internal grief, Omar Berrada will be the first to act.
How would you feel about landing Real’s star this summer? Let us know in the comments or across our social channels.
Photo by mrogowski_photography via depositphotos.com.
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