Aurelien Tchouameni is unlikely to leave Real Madrid this summer - despite Rio Ferdinand encouraging Manchester United to sign him.
Tchouameni, 23, rejected Liverpool to join Real from Monaco a year ago and his previous comments suggest he will not quit the Spanish capital until he leaves his mark. He is one of the most exciting midfielders in European football, but Real have recently signed Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund - triggering speculation about Tchouameni's future.
Although the France international played 50 games during his debut season at the Bernabeu, many of those appearances came from the bench. The talent struggled to get ahead of the likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga.
Tchouameni's lack of minutes in Spain has fuelled speculation of a summer transfer, with Ferdinand urging his former employers to swoop for him. The United legend believes Tchouameni would "improve us massively" in central midfield.
Yet it's hard to see Tchouameni giving up on his Spanish dream. Speaking in July 2022, he said: "As soon as Real Madrid arrived on the scene, I did not hesitate. I want to leave a mark on football and the best club for this is Real Madrid. It's the best decision for me."
That is why Real won the race for his signature and got the better of Liverpool. Tchouameni added: "When Madrid called, I didn't hesitate and I talked about it with my family... I wrote to my agent and told him: do everything possible to take me there, please."
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Tchouameni will find it even tougher to get in Real's midfield next season after they announced the signing of Bellingham. Valverde and Camavinga are still under contract, while Kroos signed a new one-year deal on Wednesday.
As for Modric, his contract expires this month and it's unclear whether he will sign a new deal. If the 37-year-old does stay at the Bernabeu, Tchouameni may be forced to look elsewhere for first team football - hence Ferdinand's desire for United to sign him.
Ferdinand discussed United's current midfield options on his Vibe with Five podcast. The ex-defender said: "You've got Bruno [Fernandes], you've got [Christian] Eriksen who can play in the 8, Fred and [Scott] McTominay are the two back-up ones.
"If we can get a more dynamic No.8 who can gets us goals and assists to add to what Bruno is doing. And also to take the ball and dictate a game.
"Eriksen does the dictating part brilliantly well. Calm, cool under pressure, takes the sting out of games, he's been great I think. But if you want to go another level, you need someone who is better than him.
"That's going to be a big area for the team, it would improve us massively. In midfield, you know who I would go and get? I would go try get Tchouameni. He is the one who doesn’t play, he is the odd man out at the minute. Massive improvement."
