Jose Mourinho may have a difficult midfield decision to make at Real Madrid this season, with journalist Ramon Alvarez de Mon questioning whether Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni can regularly start together under the Portuguese coach.
Both players have been important members of Real Madrid’s midfield in recent seasons, but Mourinho’s ideas and the options now available to him could change the balance.
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Ramon Alvarez de Mon believes Valverde currently has the advantage in Mourinho’s thinking.
He states that the midfielder was identified by the coach as one of the players he considered essential to his plans when discussions about his return to the Santiago Bernabéu were taking place.
“Valverde and Tchouameni won’t be starting together in most matches,” Ramón de Mon said, as reported by Defensa Central.
Mourinho’s appears to have made his decision. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
The key to understanding the situation appears to be the conversations that took place while Madrid were planning Mourinho’s return.
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According to the journalist, Mourinho had already informed the club that there were certain players he did not want to lose and Valverde was among them.
Tchouameni, by contrast, was not included in that group.
However, that does not mean the French midfielder has been discarded. Far from it. His position at the club has actually become considerably more secure during the summer.
Despite transfer speculation surrounding his future this summer, Real Madrid ultimately decided against selling Tchouameni.
Tchouameni is still central to Mourinho’s plans. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
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In fact, the club went a step further by renewing the midfielder’s contract until 2031.
For now, Tchouameni may not be viewed as indispensable in the same way as Valverde, but Real Madrid clearly still see considerable value in the French international.
Understandably so, Mourinho has several different profiles available in midfield, meaning he does not necessarily have to select the same combination every week.
That could make the Valverde-Tchouameni partnership more dependent on the opponent, match situation and Mourinho’s tactical demands.
