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Sought-after French midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni signed with Real Madrid on a six-year contract, the club announced Saturday morning.
The transfer was agreed to earlier this week, according to ESPN, but it was initially reported by the network as a five-year deal worth up to $86 million. In May, Tchouaméni reportedly spurned interest from Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain to move forward on a contract with Real Madrid.
Tchouaméni, 22, spent the last two years with AS Monaco and also plays for the French national team. With Real Madrid, Tchouaméni will presumably serve as the long-term replacement for 30-year-old Casemiro, who has been with the club since 2013.
In May, fellow French soccer star Kylian Mbappé was reportedly set to join Real Madrid, but reversed course and re-signed with PSG. The addition of Tchouaméni is a boon for a Real Madrid defense that was shaky at times, despite the team’s run to win the La Liga and Champions League titles.
Real Madrid allowed only 31 goals during the 2021-22 La Liga season, but much of that was a credit to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, as the team’s expected goals allowed was 47.1. Real Madrid beat Chelsea in the Champions League quarterfinals, 5-4, and Manchester City in the semifinals, 6-5. While the team beat Liverpool in the final, 1-0, Real Madrid allowed nine shots on goal.
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