To get an idea of his impact, one only has to see the aura and importance of those who already adore him in Madrid. Florentino Pérez, Carlo Ancelotti, Karim Benzema, Emilio Butragueño: all fell under the spell of Aurélien Tchouameni, who landed just over two months ago with the Merengues. At the time of receiving Mallorca this Sunday (2 p.m.), the tricolor midfielder is already enchanting the Spanish capital.
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Aurélien Tchouaméni poses alongside Florentino Pérez following signing for Real Madrid
Credit: Getty Images
Already a member of the “TMK” in the middle
Because indeed at first glance, a transfer of 80 million euros (+20 bonus) at 22 years old might have made the player’s legs tremble. It was misunderstanding the boy. His first outings had already aroused the joy of Madrid journalists, enchanted by Tchouameni “the wrecker”. Marca gave a layer of it this week, once more displaying the Frenchman on the front page of its Friday edition, accompanying the title “La TMK (understand “Tchouameni-Kroos-Modric”, editor’s note) at the helm of Real Madrid“, proof if necessary of the omnipresence already felt by the neo-Madrilenian on the game of his team.
A pressure that doesn’t seem to reach her
Tchouameni is not in Madrid to ‘replace’, but to bring something new. He is a different player from Casemiro – Ancelotti and observers keep repeating this – who is certainly more skilful with the ball but who still needs to improve defensively. “We are working with him more defensively as we need him to get used to the characteristics of other players.has also tempered Ancelotti. It takes a bit of time. Playing with Modric and Kroos is different for him than playing with Valverde, Ceballos or Camavinga.”
Aurélien Tchouameni hailed by Carlo Ancelotti
Credit: Getty Images
The room for improvement is still significant, but what impresses above all is the power and ease released by the former Bordeaux player on the pitch, where he is already asserting himself as a boss. Where by way of comparison Eduardo Camavinga, certainly younger, sometimes seemed more timid and tense by the weight of the jersey during his first season, Tchouameni does not seem to be affected either by the pressure of a stadium like the Bernabeu, or by that of a new competition like the Champions League, which he discovered for the first time this week at Celtic Park, sorry.
In search of a first false note
His ease shown on the pitch was still such that it was almost hard to believe that it was his very first C1 match on Wednesday. This reminds us of the patience that we must have with him, but also the fulgurance with which he goes through the stages naturally in his young career. At 22, he already has European experience through AS Monaco’s Europa League campaign last season, as well as significant international experience thanks to his twelve selections and his victory in the Nations League a year ago. year. Didier Deschamps can also be delighted, he who with the instability of Kanté and the unavailability to be expected of Paul Pogba, will not have too much of a performing Tchouameni in the middle to bring his midfield to Qatar.
Despite the steps taken at high speed, the former Bordelais fascinates both by his game and by his perfect communication. The Frenchman’s head is still firmly on his shoulders, and the maturity with which he expresses himself still impresses as much, as following the European meeting in the middle of the week: “There are good things for sure, and others on which I can still improve. But I’m feeling good, I keep getting stronger“Mallorca is warned, Tchouameni is still far from satisfied.
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