Mourinho keeps Tchouameni at Real Madrid as United seal £50m Santos deal

Manchester United’s summer midfield rebuild took a significant turn on Wednesday as the club agreed a £50million deal with Chelsea for Andrey Santos, only for their hopes of landing Aurelien Tchouameni to be simultaneously extinguished by Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho.

Tchouameni, 26, is set to sign a new five-year contract at the Bernabeu, according to RMC Sport, who report that the France international wanted to remain in the Spanish capital even after receiving approaches from other clubs, including United. Despite suggestions that Madrid could cash in on the former Monaco midfielder, agreeing a new deal for him was described as a priority for the club.

The decision comes within a month of Mourinho returning to Real Madrid as head coach. The Portuguese manager ultimately chose to retain Tchouameni as part of his squad rebuild, with only one of the club’s four summer signings — Bernardo Silva — operating in midfield, though not in direct competition with Tchouameni for the same role.

For United, the loss of Tchouameni as an option compounds an already difficult window in the middle of the park. Manuel Ugarte sustained an injury during the World Cup, leaving Kobbie Mainoo as the club’s only fit central midfielder. That blow may force the club to recruit a third midfielder before the window closes.

Santos, the subject of Wednesday’s £50m agreement with Chelsea, is one of several midfielders United have monitored this summer alongside Alex Scott, Carlos Baleba, Felix Nmecha, Sander Berge and Ederson, the latter now available following Brazil’s elimination from the World Cup and reportedly due to undergo a medical. United were priced out of moves for Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes.

It remains unclear whether completing the Santos deal would have ended United’s interest in Tchouameni regardless, given the club had expressed a desire to sign multiple midfielders this summer even before Ugarte’s injury.

Real Madrid also moved to publicly distance themselves from reported interest in Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez this week, releasing a club statement categorically denying any direct or indirect efforts to sign the Argentina international and reaffirming their institutional respect for Chelsea.