A player Real Madrid would regret not signing in summer 2022

Real Madrid, Florentino Perez (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Real Madrid, Florentino Perez (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Real Madrid are on the cusp of securing the league title and are very much in the Champions League semifinal tie against one of the most expensive and talented squads on the planet, Manchester City.

But Madridistas know that to stay on top year after year, work must be done every summer. Los Blancos were more quiet than usual in the last two windows in order to save up for Kylian Mbappe, though, as it turns out, he will not cost 200 million euros in a transfer fee to PSG. The Merengues can sign him for free in 2022.

As much as Madridistas love Mbappe and have been looking forward to the PSG superstar being the headliner of the 2022 summer transfer class, they know the moves cannot stop there. Real Madrid are, thankfully, close to bringing in a much-needed center back upgrade in Antonio Rudiger on another brilliant free transfer. Recall that they signed David Alaba, who has been one of the best in Europe this season, for free last summer in one of their only two moves since the 2020 winter window.

Yet there is still one player who stands out above the rest as someone Real Madrid must sign, even though they already have a world-class player in his position.

Aurelien Tchouameni was whispered as a Real Madrid transfer target in 2020, and then he went out and had the season of his life in 2020/21. Real did not go after him in 2021, though, as they had the opportunity to sign Eduardo Camavinga, another amazing Ligue 1 midfielder with even more upside due to his age, in 2021. They signed him for just 30 million euros, a can’t-miss opportunity to land a player they had on their radar since 2019.

Real Madrid should open their checkbook and invest in Aurelien Tchouameni

Now in 2022, Tchouameni can be had. Monaco love him and understand he is already one of the top midfielders in Europe – not just in France – but he is ready for a big move. He will not be cheap, and he is not without competitors. Chelsea have shown interest. PSG are always a threat, though you’d think that like Rennes, Monaco would not want to sell him there. And now Liverpool are involved, too.

Real Madrid were once heavily-linked with Tchouameni, even reportedly agreeing to personal terms with the 22-year-old. The links remain and Real are still very much interested, but it seems like they have yet to send a formal transfer offer to Monaco for Tchouameni.

Here, the financial aspect is tricky. About 60 million euros seems to be the fee for Tchouameni, but the operation is complex due to the variables involved, as well as the presence of other big clubs with interest.

Tchouameni, though, seems to favor Madrid. His tweet praising the level of the match between Real Madrid and Manchester City in the Champions League semifinal caught just about everyone’s attention on social media, particularly Madridistas.

This is a deal that can happen. As with Camavinga, Tchouameni could push for a move to Madrid over the others. Madrid have a pull like nobody else. And with Erling Haaland ever-closer to Manchester City in the midst of Karim Benzema’s continued dominance and Mbappe’s impending arrival, Tchouameni is not as much of a financial difficulty as you might think.

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But missing out on Tchouameni could be tragic. Tchouameni is the only player who can replace Casemiro as the 6. At this point, he is the only 6 worth buying, because he is the only up-and-comer who can already defend at an elite level and has the ball security and offensive contributions to be an asset – if not a long-term upgrade, even – to Los Blancos.

Tchouameni is tearing it up in Ligue 1 and would already be good enough to push for starts in Madrid. Fede Valverde, Camavinga, and Tchouameni could form the most enviable modern trident in world football.

Real Madrid cannot let “Tchou” slip through their grasp…