Aurelien Tchouameni must be secured
Casemiro has been, overall, a good starter for Real Madrid this season, even brilliant at times. But the KCM era is coming to an end, and as much as Carlo Ancelotti has run these three into the ground in 2021/22, the club’s management knows that now is the time to prepare for the future.
In Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga, Real Madrid quite clearly have their two wide midfielders of the future. They have already been matchwinners in big games, including against the likes of Inter Milan and PSG in the Champions League.
But who replaces Casemiro? Defensive midfielders who can anchor and play great defense are hard to find, and Real need to find someone who can provide the same defensive cover Case does in the 6 role. Not easy, right?
It’s a damn good thing they have been tracking the ideal option for years, Aurelien Tchouameni. Everyone talks about Declan Rice, Bernardo Silva, Nicolo Barella, and other big names, but Tchouameni can be as good as those guys – if not better – at a rarer position. Tchouameni is a slam dunk, and the 22-year-old’s stock just keeps on rising. After Monaco’s 3-0 win over PSG, the Frenchman’s stock may be at an all-time high.
Right back is a more pressing need than midfield, but it is becoming clear that more dynamism and all-around play in midfield is needed for the next era. Tchouameni can do things no other defensive midfielder – not even Casemiro, who has serious ball security issues – can.