Mourinho shuts door on Tchouaméni departure despite Manchester United and Liverpool interest

José Mourinho, back at Real Madrid for a second spell, has reportedly asked the club’s hierarchy to close the door on any departure for Aurélien Tchouaméni, according to The Sun. The 26-year-old French international midfielder is under contract until June 2028.

Manchester United had recently positioned itself to attract the player, and Liverpool had also reportedly shown interest. The two English clubs will now have to revise their plans, with the new Madrid manager having made it clear that he is counting on Tchouaméni in his setup for next season.

Yet the Frenchman’s end to the season was not without turbulence. Used by both Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa in Madrid’s rotation, Tchouaméni was involved in a double altercation with Fede Valverde late in the campaign, fueling speculation about his future.

This choice is part of a broader overhaul initiated by Florentino Pérez, re-elected to the club presidency until 2030 after defeating his rival Enrique Riquelme. Keen to launch a new cycle after a 2025-2026 season without trophies, the Madrid chief has officially confirmed Mourinho’s return — who previously spent time at the Bernabéu between 2010 and 2013 — and is targeting several high-profile recruits, including Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konaté.

The extension of defender Antonio Rüdiger is reportedly already done, a sign of a desire for defensive stability in the project Mourinho is about to build.