Real Madrid is reported to have made a final decision on the future of Aurélien Tchouaméni, as they are ready to sell the French midfielder to pool funds for signing Rodri from Manchester City.
Rodri, a 2026 World Cup champion with the Spain national team, currently has only one year remaining on his contract with Manchester City.
The Etihad Stadium side still wishes to retain the 30-year-old midfielder, but according to multiple sources, Rodri is leaning towards a return to Spain after seven years of playing in England. He joined Man City from Atletico Madrid in 2019.
According to Sky Sports News, Real Madrid has officially contacted Man City and is ready to spend between £43 million and £51 million to bring Rodri to the Bernabéu.
Since Jose Mourinho took charge of the managerial seat, Real Madrid has prioritized adding experienced stars. The Royal Club has sequentially signed Bernardo Silva, Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté, and Denzel Dumfries.
If he arrives at the Bernabéu, Rodri—Ballon d’Or winner as well as European and world champion—will become Real’s most notable signing this summer. In addition, the Spanish club is also expected to complete the acquisition of 19-year-old RB Leipzig talent Yan Diomande, a player valued at over £100 million.
To balance the squad following a series of major deals, Real is forced to part ways with several names. According to The Sun, Tchouaméni has been placed on the potential departure list, with Manchester United closely monitoring the situation.
The Red Devils are rebuilding their midfield under head coach Michael Carrick. Previously, the Old Trafford club spent over £70 million to bring in Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
However, the MU board still wants to add another quality central midfielder, and Tchouaméni has long been a top target in the summer transfer window.
Notably, ESPN reported earlier this month that the 26-year-old midfielder had reached an agreement to extend his contract with Real Madrid until 2031. Even so, the Royal Club has yet to issue an official announcement.
According to the latest developments from The Sun, Real Madrid is now prepared to sell Tchouaméni after recognizing substantial interest from Manchester United.
Sources also indicate that Mourinho initially wanted to keep the French international. However, when the opportunity to sign Rodri became viable, the Portuguese strategist changed his stance and accepted letting Tchouaméni leave in order to facilitate this blockbuster deal.
