Real Madrid maintains stance on Aurélien Tchouaméni amid transfer rumors

Real Madrid has shut the door on any potential departure for Aurélien Tchouaméni. Manchester United, which views the French midfielder as a priority target, has reportedly been unable to even get negotiations started.

The stalemate centers on two things: Madrid’s unwillingness to sell and United’s apparent hesitation around Tchouaméni’s salary demands.

What’s actually happening

Real Madrid signed Tchouaméni from AS Monaco back in 2022 as a long-term successor to Casemiro. That same Casemiro ended up at Manchester United, which makes United’s interest in Tchouaméni feel like a sequel nobody asked for.

Madrid has not agreed to let the midfielder leave. Manchester United reportedly considers Tchouaméni a dream signing. United’s reluctance to meet salary expectations has created an additional barrier, even if Madrid were willing to negotiate, which they are not.

Tchouaméni’s role at Madrid

During the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, Madrid has deployed the Frenchman at centre-back on multiple occasions. Tchouaméni himself has publicly expressed discomfort with the positional shift.

Tchouaméni also has France’s 2026 World Cup campaign on his radar. His ambitions at the international level align with staying at a top club where he gets regular playing time.

The broader transfer landscape

The Casemiro precedent is worth noting. When Madrid sold the Brazilian midfielder to United, it was widely seen as a mutually beneficial deal. The calculus with Tchouaméni is different. He was signed as the future of that midfield position.

What to watch from here

The key variable is Tchouaméni himself. If he continues to express frustration with his centre-back deployment, and if that frustration becomes more public, Madrid’s negotiating position could soften.

Worth noting: this story has zero intersection with crypto markets, fan tokens, or blockchain-based sports platforms. It’s a purely traditional transfer negotiation, driven by old-fashioned factors like contract terms, positional fit, and institutional stubbornness.

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