Jose Mourinho has moved to deny his former club Manchester United in the summer transfer market after returning to Real Madrid and becoming their new head coach
Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho has ended Manchester United's hopes of signing Aurelien Tchouameni(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Aurelien Tchouameni has reportedly put pen to paper on a new contract with Real Madrid despite interest from Manchester United. Tchouameni, 26, is understood to be committing to a further five years in the Spanish capital, a month after the return of Jose Mourinho.
News regarding the France international's future emerged within hours of United finalising a £50million agreement with Chelsea for Andrey Santos, whose medical will take place today (Thursday). The midfielder is amongst several targets the club have kept tabs on this summer, including Alex Scott, Carlos Baleba, Felix Nmecha and Sander Berge.
Ederson is also set to undergo a medical now that Brazil have been eliminated from the World Cup. It remains unclear whether securing Santos would have extinguished any pursuit of Tchouameni.
United were keen to bring in multiple midfielders this summer, even before Manuel Ugarte picked up an injury during the World Cup. That setback could compel them to recruit a third, with Kobbie Mainoo currently their sole fit central midfielder. The club were priced out of moves for both Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes.
RMC Sport reports that Tchouameni was determined to remain at Madrid, even after receiving approaches from other clubs, most notably United. Despite speculation that the La Liga giants could look to cash in on the former Monaco man, agreeing a fresh contract for him is said to have been a priority.
Mourinho will seemingly be keeping Tchouameni, in addition to their four signings this summer. Only one of those new arrivals is a midfielder, however, and Bernardo Silva is not a player who will directly challenge Tchouameni for a starting berth in the side.
Aurelien Tchouameni
Aurelien Tchouameni seems set to stay at Real Madrid this summer(Image: Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos, ISI Photos via Getty Images)
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Madrid also publicly dismissed any suggestion of interest in Enzo Fernandez, going as far as releasing an official club statement addressing the speculation.
It read: "In light of the information and statements that have emerged in recent days regarding an alleged interest from Real Madrid C. F. in the player Enzo Fernández, the club wishes to state that it has not made any efforts, either directly or indirectly, aimed at signing the aforementioned player and, furthermore, has no intention of pursuing such an operation.
"Real Madrid wishes to express its utmost respect for Enzo Fernández, a great footballer whose career and quality are widely recognised, as well as for Chelsea FC, a club with which it maintains an excellent institutional relationship.
"Precisely out of respect for an institution like Chelsea FC and the principles of institutional loyalty that have always guided Real Madrid's actions, the club considers it necessary to categorically deny these speculations, which are unfounded and do not reflect reality.
"Real Madrid regrets that, despite the clarity of the facts and the absence of any action by the club, information continues to be disseminated that does not correspond to reality and only serves to create confusion among fans and unnecessarily harm the entities and individuals involved."