Real Madrid are willing to sell midfielder Aurelian Tchouameni to Manchester United this summer, despite new Los Blancos boss Jose Mourinho’s desire to keep hold of the Frenchman, according to the Sun.

Tchouameni has been a pivotal figure at the Bernabeu for four years now, helping lead the Spanish giants to a Champions League triumph and a La Liga title. However, after a spat with teammate Federico Valverde last season, the 26-year-old has lost his status as an untouchable figure in Madrid, and the club are now considering cashing in on him this summer to fund a move for Manchester City’s Rodri.

Mourinho is said to have planned to keep Tchouameni, but these plans have changed now that the possibility of landing Rodri has become a potential reality.

United are interested in signing the Real Madrid star, and it’s believed a fee of around £68 million could get the deal over the line.

Real Madrid Now Willing to Sell Aurelien Tchouameni to Man Utd

via Reuters

United have already signed Youri Tielemans for £35 million and Andrey Santos for £50 million this summer, as they enact a rebuild in the middle of the park, prompted by the departure of Casemiro and a serious injury to Manuel Ugarte.

It’s been widely reported that Tchouameni is the dream target to complete this midfield rebuild, although the indications up until now have been that the player is not for sale.

The Sun report that this stance has now changed, against Mourinho’s will, because Los Blancos are looking to raise funds ahead of an ambitious move for Rodri.

It’s understood that a fee of around £68 million, roughly what Real Madrid paid for him in 2022, could be sufficient for bringing him to Old Trafford.

Real Madrid signed Tchouameni to replace Casemiro, who left for United that summer. The Red Devils are now looking to pry the France international to Manchester as a replacement for the Brazilian, in what could be a full-circle transfer saga.

Aurelien Tchouameni Would Fix Man Utd’s Midfield Issues

Sarah Meyssonnier Via Reuters

United have already gone a long way to fixing their issues in the middle of the park this summer. The north-west side have lacked a midfield passer for several years, outside of the more advanced Bruno Fernandes, and have finally added one to their ranks in the form of Tielemans.

They’ve also added a dynamic, defensively-minded midfielder in Santos, who can develop alongside Kobbie Mainoo, and the pair can eventually form United’s starting double pivot in a few years.

Tchouameni would be the final piece. The former Monaco man would provide the defensive platform for Tielemans and Fernandes to progress the ball and create chances in the final third, anchoring an increasingly stable back four at Old Trafford.

It has emerged that Lionel Messi could have snubbed Argentina to represent a surprise World Cup nation after a three-year historical investigation reached its conclusion this week. The 39-year-old became just the second player in history to start three competition finals when he inspired La Albiceleste’s run to the showpiece at MetLife Stadium this summer.

Argentina’s bid to retain their crown ultimately ended in heartbreak, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final. Messi and his teammates committed 26 fouls and failed to register a single shot on target during normal time, but the disappointing result and performance did little to diminish the legacy of one of football’s greatest-ever players.

Across eight appearances at the tournament, Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists, once again underlining his enduring brilliance. In Argentina, he is perceived closer to a godlike figure than just a national icon, and it’s hard to imagine him not wearing the blue and white of his current nation.

Shock World Cup Nation Lionel Messi Could Have Snubbed Argentina For

Lionel Messi looks dejected via REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

A historian’s three-year investigation has revealed that Messi’s international career could have taken a dramatically different path, with the Inter Miami star potentially eligible to represent another World Cup nation instead of Argentina.

According to Globo, via Yahoo Sports, Messi could have qualified to play for Brazil through his maternal ancestry. Italian historian Fiorenzo Santini found that one of the Rosario-born captain’s maternal great-grandparents was born in Ribeirao Preto, in the interior of Sao Paulo state, at the start of the 20th century. The family later emigrated to Argentina around 1905, giving Messi a potential claim to Brazilian nationality.

Santini’s research also uncovered an intriguing detail about the family’s history. After settling in Rosario, the original surname on Messi’s maternal side, Coccettini, was altered in official records to Cuccittini – the spelling by which the footballer’s maternal lineage is known today.

He Could Have Played For Two Other Nations Too

REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Brazil and Argentina aren’t the only two nations Messi could have represented, either, with another study revealing he was also eligible to play for Italy and Spain.

Messi moved from Argentina to Spain at the age of 13, and this alone presented him with the opportunity to declare for La Roja. The Spain manager during the European nation’s period of dominance, Vicente de Bosque, revealed that the Spanish FA tried to convince Messi to play for them before he opted for Argentina.

“The Federation made every effort to get Messi to play for Spain,” Del Bosque told a Spanish radio station. “Lionel refused because he loves his country. His arrival would have been for the best. Messi is Messi – there is only one. It would have been a dream to coach him.”

Meanwhile, as is the case with many Argentines, he also has an Italian background, which stems from the massive wave of immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some reports suggest that nearly 60 per cent of Argentinian families have Italian ancestry.

Roberto De Zerbi seems keen to still put his trust in youth at Tottenham Hotspur despite a busy record-breaking summer transfer window.

The Lilywhites have splashed the cash on three high-profile players, with Sandro Tonali becoming the club’s record signing in a £100 million deal. A hefty £85m was spent on Mateus Fernandes, while Jan Paul van Hecke reunited with De Zerbi in a £52m deal.

Those three are set to be a major part of De Zerbi’s plans to drive Spurs back into European contention next season. While there’s been a big push for a rebuild, the Italian coach is still keen to turn to youth.

De Zerbi Tells Olusesi He’s Staying

REUTERS/Scott Heppell

There has been some speculation over Callum Olusesi’s future amid the 19-year-old missing out on a place in De Zerbi’s 36-man squad for a pre-season tour in New Zealand. He had been linked with a permanent exit in January and Standard Sport reported that Hoffenheim and PSV Eindhoven were eyeing the English youngster.

The same outlet now claims that De Zerbi has informed Olusesi that he is part of his plans and is expected to stay and challenge for minutes. He made his Premier League and Champions League debut last season, featuring three times at senior level.

Olusesi is missing Spurs’ trip to New Zealand as he recovers from an injury, but the versatile midfielder is one of several academy players who are set to compete for first-team minutes. Defender Jun’ai Byfield and Luca Williams-Barnett are also going nowhere, although the latter might not be ready for senior football.

De Zerbi’s Lilywhites face Auckland FC, Sydney FC and Chelsea in the coming days during their pre-season tour. While Byfield wasn’t included, Williams-Barnett was alongside new signings Tonali, Fernandes and Van Hecke.

Tottenham Building For Now and Future

Spurs needed to take immediate action in the current market after last season’s relegation battle. They avoided the drop on the final day of a dismal campaign.

The torment of the past 12 months has been firmly put behind them with probably their most exciting transfer business since the magnificent seven in 2013. It was impossible for the higher-ups to continue targeting short-term fixes or bargain buys rather than elite players as they have.

That said, there remains a need to build for the future and that includes trusting in the youth academy. Olusesi, dubbed “great” by Ange Postecoglou, is one of the teenage prospects tipped for a bright future amid impressive displays for the U21s.

Spurs legend Jermain Defoe is a massive fan, and he believes the midfielder has “great potential.” The iconic striker explained how he can play as a six, eight or even as a ten, and this analysis speaks volumes about why De Zerbi will be handing him opportunities.

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