Desailly backs Tchouameni to follow Varane and Casemiro to Manchester United

Marcel Desailly has urged Aurélien Tchouameni to join Manchester United, as the club’s pursuit of the Real Madrid midfielder gathers pace ahead of the 2025-26 Premier League season.

Spanish outlet Diario AS reports that Real Madrid will not sanction a sale for less than £85 million, and that United officials are planning to travel to Madrid to open formal negotiations. The France international is said to prefer remaining in Spain, but United’s existing relationships at the Bernabéu could help smooth the path to a deal.

Desailly, speaking to sportscasting.com, drew a direct comparison with Raphaël Varane’s 2021 switch from Madrid to Old Trafford as he made the case for Tchouameni to make the same move. “I’m sure Aurélien Tchouameni would move to the Premier League, and Manchester United is still a massive club; a massive name,” the former Chelsea and France defender said.

“He had a difficult season, but at least he shows leadership. That’s why when you talk about Konaté or Tchouameni, I’ll always choose Tchouameni because of his desire. I believe that he has that little bit of leadership and the desire to bring the team all together. So it could be a good move for him, just like when Raphaël Varane swapped Madrid for Manchester back in the day. So why not? I would encourage him to go for it and try the Premier League.”

Varane joined United in 2021 for around £41 million and went on to make 95 appearances, winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup before departing the club. Casemiro followed a year later, racking up 160 appearances and 40 goal contributions across two domestic cup triumphs before leaving this summer — a departure that is understood to have directly accelerated United’s interest in Tchouameni.

At 26, Tchouameni would arrive with both Champions League pedigree and the example of two former Madrid team-mates who successfully made the transition to English football.

Manager Michael Carrick has already moved to strengthen his midfield this summer, completing the £35 million signing of Atalanta’s Ederson, and is expected to continue adding to his squad as his first full season in permanent charge approaches.