Florentino Perez being re-elected as Real Madrid’s president has confirmed that Jose Mourinho will indeed return to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
As a result, he has reportedly already closed off the prospect of selling Manchester United-linked Aurelien Tchouameni.
United and Aurelien Tchouameni: What’s been said?
The Red Devils had registered their interest in the lead-up to the window amid Tchouameni’s uncertain situation in Madrid.
His widely covered bust-up with counterpart Federico Valverde had him steal the headlines for all the wrong reasons, and it came after Los Blancos oversaw a second straight trophyless campaign.
🚨 Federico Valverde & Aurelien Tchouameni in dressing-room fight at Real Madrid training ground. Valverde went to hospital with head injury. Follows altercation 24hrs earlier. #RMFC expected to take action. W/ @GuillermoRai_ @MarioCortegana @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/YYWKTdSKCN
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) May 7, 2026
Given he is about to enter the penultimate season of his contract, United had begun gauging the feasibility of the 26-year-old being their marquee addition in midfield, but are now poised to see any attempts rebuffed by Madrid.
Mourinho, according to Samuel Luckhurst, is keen to keep hold of Tchouameni, who will once again be representing France at the forthcoming World Cup as they look to improve on their runners-up finish in 2022.
Mourinho wants to keep Tchouameni amid #mufc interesthttps://t.co/7FdNwO5vXj
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) June 8, 2026
Tchouameni to stay at Madrid
The player himself had given no indication as to whether he’d have liked to embark on a new venture, having spent the last four years with Los Blancos.
Real Madrid respond immediately with an exquisite finish from Aurelien Tchouameni 🔥@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/uKDAL8bDi0
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 25, 2026
He had been on United’s shortlist since before he even made the move, as they first began scouting Tchouameni during his stellar stint with AS Monaco.
His eye-catching performances quickly made him one of the most sought-after stars in Europe, after which an approach from European goliaths Madrid proved too lucrative to turn down.
Elsewhere, INEOS have agreed a £39 million deal for Atalanta’s Ederson, but his late World Cup call-up means the transfer will likely have to be finalised when Brazil have finished their campaign.
Manchester City are also preparing an improved bid for Elliot Anderson after having their opening offer rejected by Nottingham Forest last week, so it remains to be seen if United will try their luck with a proposal themselves.
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