Real Madrid have all but closed the door on any prospect of Aurelien Tchouameni leaving the club this summer, releasing images of the French midfielder undergoing a pre-season medical after his extended break following the World Cup.
Tchouameni had been away from the Spanish capital for three weeks, recovering from an underwhelming end to the international tournament. France were beaten by England in the third-place play-off, meaning Tchouameni and his compatriots departed the competition without a trophy to show for their efforts.
His return to Madrid's Ciudad Real Madrid training base comes amid persistent speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United. The Premier League club had reportedly earmarked the 26-year-old as a priority target this summer, with head coach Michael Carrick eager to strengthen a midfield that has been depleted by injury and departures.
United have already spent a combined £90million on Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans this window, but a significant injury to Manuel Ugarte and the exit of Casemiro left Carrick still searching for reinforcements in central midfield. Tchouameni was seen as a potential solution, and interest from Old Trafford reportedly dated back to explorations of a deal near the end of last season, with hope persisting into the new campaign that something could materialise.
Adding fuel to that speculation were reports suggesting Real Madrid might be open to selling a prominent first-team player to help finance new manager Jose Mourinho's ambitious recruitment plans. That backdrop led some to believe Tchouameni could be among those sacrificed to balance the books.
However, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, those United hopes have now been extinguished. Romano reported that Tchouameni is set to stay at the Bernabeu, with the France international having already put pen to paper on a new five-year contract that ties him to the club for the long term. That agreement effectively ends any lingering possibility of a switch to Manchester United this summer.
Romano also indicated that Tchouameni remains fully invested in Real Madrid's long-term project and is expected to be an important figure under Mourinho as the Portuguese coach begins shaping his squad following his appointment.
Tchouameni was among a group of high-profile names who reported for the first day of pre-season training on Monday, joining France team-mate Kylian Mbappe and England international Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid's training complex. The club subsequently shared a photo on social media showing Tchouameni going through his medical assessment, a routine but symbolic step that appeared to underline his continued presence at the club.
For Manchester United, the confirmation represents another setback in their pursuit of experienced central midfield options. With Ugarte sidelined through injury and Casemiro having already departed, Carrick's options in that area of the pitch remain limited despite the club's outlay on Santos and Tielemans this summer. Whether United turn their attention to alternative targets before the transfer window closes remains to be seen.
For Real Madrid, meanwhile, the retention of Tchouameni offers reassurance as Mourinho embarks on his new role, with the midfielder set to feature prominently in the manager's plans as the club's pre-season preparations get underway.
Based on reporting from standard-football.