Jose Mourinho wants to keep Manchester United target Aurelien Tchouameni | OneFootball

Incoming Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho is set to deal Manchester United a blow in their pursuit of midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, insisting the player remains at the Santiago Bernabeu. Following Florentino Perez’s victory in the club’s presidential election, Mourinho is poised to return to the Madrid dugout, and one of his first moves will be to prevent any departure for the highly sought-after French international. Manchester United have identified Tchouameni as their ideal signing to anchor a revamped midfield as Old Trafford officials believe the 26-year-old has the physical presence and tactical discipline required to succeed Casemiro.

Tchouameni’s future was cast into doubt late in the season after a highly publicised training ground altercation with teammate Federico Valverde. The incident resulted in a €500,000 fine for both players. However, any expectations of a Premier League move have now been crushed, as Mourinho, who monitored the squad’s internal tensions during his final weeks at Benfica, has no intention of sanctioning the Frenchman’s sale. Renowned for building defensively resilient teams anchored by dominant holding midfielders, Mourinho sees the ‘incredible’ Tchouameni as indispensable to his tactical system.

With Perez officially securing his mandate until 2030, Real Madrid are fully aligned with their new manager’s vision. The club is under no financial pressure to sell key players, especially as substantial gains are planned through other squad adjustments. Mourinho has made it clear to the hierarchy that rebuilding the squad’s competitive edge starts with retaining its elite core. While Manchester United are ready to spend heavily on a world-class defensive midfielder this summer, they will have to look elsewhere, as Mourinho has locked down Tchouameni’s future in Madrid.