Real Madrid open to sell €80m star to fund swoop for world's best player

Real Madrid are allegedly open to selling their star defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.

Relevo reports that Tchouameni's recent performances are beginning to raise doubts at the Santiago Bernabeu and that the Frenchman is no longer considered untouchable.

Disappointed with Tchouameni's performances this season, Madrid are allegedly open to selling the 24 year-old who they signed just two years ago.

Tchouameni joined Real Madrid from Monaco in 2022 for a fee of €80m, rejecting Liverpool in the process.

The Frenchman impressed in his second season as he formed a partnership with Toni Kroos that was at the heart of Madrid's successful season.

But with Kroos retiring in the summer, Tchouameni has, according to Relevo, found himself with too much work to do in midfield.

He was rested against Borussia Dortmund specifically to be fit for El Clásico but then did not play well against Barcelona, being outdone by Pedri and Marc Casado before being the first man subbed off for Los Blancos.

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It is clear that Madrid as an institution are losing faith in Tchouameni, and with Liverpool still looking for a defensive midfielder having missed out on the Frenchman two years ago when he chose the Santiago Bernabeu over Anfield, it's not like there wouldn't be any suitors if they were to put him on the market.

Meanwhile Relevo reports that the Real Madrid hierarchy, including Florentino Perez, want to bet on Eduardo Camavinga at the base of midfield, but that Carlo Ancelotti and his coaching staff don't think he is a fit for the role because he lacks the tactical discipline.

Perhaps a signing is needed?

Rodri The Replacement?

Real Madrid's love of the Ballon d'Or is a well-known and often-lamented fact of football lore, so them looking to sign a Ballon d'Or winner should not be a surprise.

Especially if that Ballon d'Or winner is a world-class defensive midfielder who was born and raised in Madrid itself and played in the youth teams of Atlético Madrid.

Relevo is reporting that Madrid are interested in signing Man City midfielder Rodri to play at the pivot. That tracks, as Rodri is the best midfielder in the world, or at least he was when he injured his ACL and meniscus, taking him out of action for the rest of the season.

Such a serious injury is one obstacle to him replacing Tchouameni at Madrid, with the other being the fallout from his 2024 Ballon d'Or win that saw Los Blancos boycott the ceremony as they felt their man Vini Jr. was unjustly denied the golden ball.

Yet and still, with Real Madrid's captain Dani Carvajal saying things like: "I tell Rodri every day to sign for Madrid, that we need him," don't be surprised to see Los Blancos put Aurelien Tchouameni up for sale to fund the signing of Rodri this coming summer.