Aurelien Tchouameni isn't worth €100m to Real Madrid - here's why
Paul Macdonald
- Updated: 23 May 2023 08:46 CDT
- 5 min read
Aurelien Tchouameni has completed a blockbuster €100 million transfer to Real Madrid from Monaco, making him one of the most expensive footballers in the history of the game.
Nevermind that 'only' €80m of the deal will be paid up front with the other €20m to potentially follow in bonuses, this is a gigantic fee for a player who is just 22 and hasn't featured outside of Ligue 1, while has only recently made his debut with the full French national side.
His potential is high, and here at FT we believe he has the future potential to match even Luka Modric.
But he's not there yet. So why is Tchouameni valued so highly in comparison to what FootballTransfers model suggests?
Aurelian Tchouameni transfer value
FootballTransfers has Tchouameni valued at €27m, which is a significant way away from the €100m Los Blancos have just spent, so how do we reach this value, and how did Real Madrid?
FOOTBALLTRANSFERS VALUATION
€27m
AURELIEN TCHOUAMENI VALUE
| OUR VALUE | PROJECTED FEE | DIFFERENCE |
| €28m | €100m | €72m |
Tchouameni is an extremely talented young player, and using data from our partners at SCISports we can see that he is an excellent passer from central midfield, utilising deep completions to good effect, and even for a player who is defensively minded, is among the highest percentile players in his position in Ligue 1 in terms of chance creation.
Monaco haven't had the best of seasons, however, and while his current skill level makes him one of their key players, he hasn't quite kicked on to the level we might have expected. He still has plenty of room to grow, however, and that will stand him in good stead moving to the Champions League holders.
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But he is a player who has never played in the Champions League and has only recently made his debut for the France national team. Much of a player's value is tied into his performances at the highest level and in Tchouameni's case, we have a pitifully small sample in this respect.
Finally, fees of €100m plus just aren't spent on players who predominately feature in a defensive position. It doesn't sell tickets or get fans to sit up and watch in the way that Kylian Mbappe or - theoretically - Eden Hazard might've done.
So why so much?
REAL MADRID'S TCHOUAMENI VALUATION
€100m
Monaco have done brilliantly to get a deal worth €100m for Aurelien Tchouameni from Real Madrid.
Performed superbly in Ligue 1 but still relatively untested at the level he'll be expected to operate at.— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) June 7, 2022
There are a number of factors driving up the price of Tchouameni.
Number One:The Selling Club
Monaco are one of the best selling clubs in the world. In the main, those that leave go on to achieve high-level success and we only need to look at the likes of Fabinho, Bernardo Silva and of course Mbappe to realise this.
But when they allow players to leave, they know the value of them and they are exceptional at deriving value. Mbappe is, of course, the cornerstone for this but they have done it consistently over the years.
Number Two: The Taxes
Monaco want Madrid to pay their taxes on the capital gain. Monaco is a tax-free principality so it's on Madrid, as far as Monaco are concerned, to pick up this tab. This amounts to as much as 13% of the overall deal which adds on €13m to the projected fee.
So this has absolutely nothing to do with the value of the player, rather than the situation Madrid finds themselves in which changes the scope of the deal.
Number Three: Real Madrid are 'holding'
Madrid are keen to act quickly to move on the narrative from the Mbappe disaster.
- FootballTransfersIt's the worst-kept secret in sport that Madrid had gone all-in on Mbappe and ultimately failed. Therefore everyone knows that there is money there that can be spent and players are being overvalued as a result.
Finally, Madrid are keen to act quickly to move on the narrative from the Mbappe disaster. They have pushed through this one just to get it done and ensure that other potential suitors are edged out. Therefore, they are paying a premium in that respect, too.
Number Four: PSG
This is generally known as 'revenge'. Don't think the Real Madrid president Florentino Perez can ever be too petty, and be clear that this will be declared as a victory back against PSG for a profoundly less talented player than Mbappe.
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FOOTBALLTRANSFERS' VERDICT
Tchouameni is a top-level Ligue 1 player but still has something to prove at the highest European and international levels.
The situation plays into Monaco's hands allowing them to demand a fee well beyond market value. So in this case Real Madrid are definitely paying over the odds - but that's not to say he can't become a very good player for them over time.
