From yellow belt in judo to idolizing Pogba: 5 unknowns of Aurelien Tchouameni, the new signing of Real Madrid

After Casemiro, Luke Modric and Toni Kroos – arguably the best midfield trident Real Madrid have ever had – move on, the club now has Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga ready and waiting to take over for the next decade. about.

For the ever trustworthy Fabricius RomanoReal Madrid have secured the signing of Tchouameni for an estimated €80m, plus add-ons that could bring the total closer to €100m with an announcement on Wednesday.

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Here are 5 unknown facts you probably don’t know about Real Madrid’s new signing:

5. Aurelien Tchouameni rejected offers from PSG and Liverpool for Real Madrid

The 22-year-old was clear with his agent and AS Monaco: if he was going to be sold, it had to be to Real Madrid.

Although Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool made daring attempts for the promising midfielder, Tchouameni did not waver in his desired landing spot (unlike some). “Tchouaméni only wanted Real” Roman reported.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp recently met with Tchouameni to discuss a move. It was quickly rejected. PSG were willing to offer more for the French international with Kylian Mbappe taking part in the games, but even so, Tchouameni knew that he wanted Real Madrid and only Real Madrid. The debutante already exudes madrista.

4. He has a yellow belt in Taekwondo

Although he seems like a shy kid on the field, off the field he is quite “dangerous”. He has a yellow belt in the Judo style of martial arts that he earned in his childhood.

3. Idolize Ngolo Kante and Paul Pogba

The fact that Aurelien Tchouameni plays as both Kante and Pogba is no coincidence, as he confirmed to GFFN that he idolizes both of them and tries to model his game on them.

The youngster has also spent time watching a handful of other midfielders (he names Patrick Vieira, Sergio Busquets and Clarence Seedorf as other inspirations), but it is Pogba and Kante who have dominated most of his time.

“SometimesThey laugh and call me ‘Pogba’ or ‘La Pioche’ (Pogba’s nickname),Tchouameni said Our Global. “After a game where I won a lot of balls, they called me ‘TchouaNgolo’”.

2. Cesc Fábregas is his great admirer

In Monaco, Cesc Fabregas has had a front row seat to Aurelien Tchouameni’s development, and it’s safe to say the Spaniard is a huge fan of what he has seen.

“I think he can play anywhere in midfield and not have any problems.” Fabregas said Ligue1.com. “He can play as a defensive midfielder, a No.6, he can play as a No.8.

“A few years from now, I even think he can become a good No. 10 because he has the power to get in the box.”

1. He started his career as a striker

Aurelien Tchouameni began his footballing career as a striker, but despite racking up goals when he was six or seven years old, the decision was soon made to return him to midfield.

An uncanny ability to win back possession, coupled with his imposing structure, led youth coaches to believe Aurelien Tchouameni’s gifts were being wasted at that end of the field, and instead repositioned him first as a holding CDM and then as a CM. .

It was a transition that Tchouameni himself admits to having trouble with at first, but it’s safe to say he’s figured it out now.

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