- Manchester United must not repeat Frenkie de Jong saga
- Real Madrid star could be allowed to leave on request
- Reds must convince Frenchman to join
Manchester United‘s pursuit of FC Barcelona star in 2022 lasted the entirety of the summer window under Erik ten Hag.
The deal stalled for the most part as De Jong was owed roughly £17m in deferred wages by Barcelona. Moreover, the player was keen to prove himself at Camp Nou, therefore had no intentions to leave.
United opted to sign Casemiro from Real Madrid instead in a matter of days. By that time, the season had already started but the club wasted an entire summer chasing a player who had no intentions of leaving.
With rumours of the Reds interested in Aurelien Tchouameni, INEOS must avoid a repeat saga this summer.
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Conditional Interest in Tchouameni
According to Roundtable via SullyTalkz, “Real Madrid would be open to letting Aurelien Tchouameni leave, only on the basis that the player himself asks to leave.”
Talks of an exit have accelerated after a physical bust-up with Federico Valverde was reported in training. Roundtable write that the onus is on United “to try to convince him to join”, as the La Liga side is still keen to retain the midfielder.
The Frenchman has played 47 times for Madrid in 2025/26, both as a deep-lying or central midfielder. He is also expected to heavily feature for France in the 2026 World Cup.
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‘Dream’ Signing After Casemiro Departs
Tchouameni is viewed as a “dream” signing, much like Frenkie de Jong was in 2022. However, Manchester United cannot afford to star in another three-month soap opera.
Unless Tchouameni explicitly signals a desire for a new challenge in the Premier League, United must prioritise other targets. Encouragingly, INEOS reportedly has a shortlist of ten alternative midfielders. This suggests they have ample options and a contingency plan.
The new hierarchy has prioritised signing players who play for the badge, rather than chasing superstars. Tchouameni has the potential to be the first target who does not fit this specific criteria. It is a delicate situation to assess, especially as Real Madrid remains keen on extending the Frenchman’s contract beyond 2028.
United must also remain wary of being used as a pawn. Having a club of United’s stature interested is a classic negotiating tactic to drive up wage demands during contract renewals. The club must ensure they aren’t being used as leverage, even if they are tempted to persuade a player who, on paper, would be the perfect partner for Kobbie Mainoo.
