Jose Mourinho is back at the Santiago Bernabeu, and he’s not wasting time. Within weeks of returning to Real Madrid, the Portuguese manager has already started reshaping the squad — and that means tough conversations for some big names. Among them: Aurelien Tchouameni, the French midfielder once considered a cornerstone of the club’s future.
According to Spanish journalist Ramón Alvarez de Mon, Tchouameni is not viewed as “untouchable” by Mourinho in the same way Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde are. Both midfielders are described as “essential” to the manager’s plans. Tchouameni, meanwhile, is “not a player he has put at the top of his list.” That distinction matters — and it opens the door for Manchester United, which has been circling for months.
The Red Devils have long seen Tchouameni as the ideal successor to Casemiro, the Brazilian enforcer who joined United from Madrid in 2022. United tried to sign the 26-year-old from Monaco back in 2022, but Real won that race. Now, with the midfielder’s status in Madrid less secure, the club is back in the mix. Recruitment director Christopher Vivell is reportedly the strongest internal advocate for the move, and exploratory talks have already taken place, per Alvarez de Mon.
What makes this situation even more complicated is what happened last month. A violent altercation between Tchouameni and Valverde reportedly left the Uruguayan hospitalized. That incident adds another layer of tension to an already delicate locker room dynamic. The Athletic has not confirmed details, but the report has circulated widely among Spanish media outlets.
Tchouameni’s contract runs through 2028, which gives Real leverage — but also ensures any potential sale would command a significant fee. The club has already listed Dani Ceballos and Eduardo Camavinga as available for transfer, while Franco Mastantuono is being made available on loan. Those moves suggest Real is clearing midfield space and raising funds for a summer spending spree.
The club recently tabled a £130 million bid for Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez, though sources inside the Metropolitano reportedly did not consider the offer “genuine.” That lack of a quick resolution on a high-profile target — combined with the free transfers already secured for Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté, Bernardo Silva, and Marc Cucurella — underscores Madrid’s financial reality: they can still attract top talent, but they can’t outspend the English giants without selling first.
If Real wants to pursue Rodri from Manchester City or Enzo Fernández from Chelsea, Tchouameni’s departure becomes almost logical. His €80 million valuation (roughly £68 million) would provide a significant chunk of the budget needed to land either of those targets.
For United, the timing looks promising. INEOS executives have little concern about Tchouameni adapting to the Premier League. At 6’2″, with elite defensive instincts and Champions League experience, he’s as close to a safe bet as they come. Chelsea, under new manager Xabi Alonso — who coached Tchouameni at Real — is also reportedly a team to watch.
But don’t expect any movement until after the World Cup. France is one of the favorites in this summer’s tournament, and Tchouameni is expected to play a leading role. Until then, the speculation will continue — but the writing is already on the wall in Madrid.
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