Real Madrid Picks Its Midfield Favorite After Training Fight and Tchouameni Is the Odd Man Out

Last season, Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni got into a training-ground fight at Real Madrid. Now the club has picked a side. And it’s not great news for the Frenchman.

According to a report from AS, Real Madrid is ready to sell one of its high-profile midfielders this summer. The club wants to “completely turn things around” after two seasons without a trophy. That means major changes are coming to the squad under Jose Mourinho.

Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga are the “main candidates” to be shown the door. Valverde, on the other hand, is staying. Real Madrid considers his future a “closed matter.” They haven’t lost faith in the Uruguayan despite interest from England.

That’s relevant because Manchester United has been circling both players. United is in the middle of a midfield overhaul and wants to add a big name. Recruitment director Christopher Vivell has been pushing hard for Tchouameni specifically. Fabrizio Romano has called him United’s “dream target.”

What a Tchouameni transfer would look like

The 26-year-old midfielder has two years left on his contract. Real Madrid is expected to ask for around 100 million euros — that’s about £87 million at current rates. He’s 6-foot-2, a Champions League winner, and a guaranteed starter for France. For a guy with that resume, the price tag almost feels reasonable when you look at what Premier League-proven guys like Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes are going for these days.

United has been burned before on big-money midfield signings. But Tchouameni is still in his prime and plays a position the club desperately needs to fill. The question is whether United will actually pull the trigger or just keep him on the wish list for another window.

Real Madrid needs the cash to fund its own rebuild. Two trophyless seasons at the Bernabeu create pressure that even a club of that size can’t ignore. Selling Tchouameni would free up money and a roster spot. It’s not ideal for them, but it’s the kind of tough call Mourinho is known for making.

For United, this might be one of those rare moments where a target actually becomes available instead of just being linked in rumors all summer. The hard part is the price. But if they want a proven winner who can start right now, they probably have to pay it.