‘I can’t not go there’: Tchouaméni on his Real Madrid dream

A clear message of loyalty and ambition

Aurélien Tchouaméni spoke openly about the responsibility that comes with wearing the Real Madrid shirt and his unshakeable determination to remain at the club. The French midfielder delivered a clear message to the fans by stating he wants to stay at what he calls “the biggest club in the world” until the end of his career.

Tchouaméni, who joined from Monaco in the summer of 2022 for €80 million, quickly established himself as a cornerstone of the team. Although he still has three years left on his contract, the 25-year-old star aims to remain at the club for many years.

“At the top. Always at the top. Hopefully still at Real Madrid, the biggest club in the world.”

In an interview with Rolling Stone Africa, Tchouaméni was crystal clear about his career plans. When asked, “Where would you like to end your career?”, he didn’t hesitate to say:

“At the top. Always at the top. Hopefully still at Real Madrid, the biggest club in the world.”

His words reflected more than loyalty — they underlined the scale of his ambition at Madrid.

Tactical importance under Xabi Alonso

During his two years at Real Madrid, Tchouaméni has played a highly versatile role in midfield and has become central to Xabi Alonso’s evolving tactical setup. During the Club World Cup, the French international was deployed both as a central defender and in a classic holding midfield role, highlighting the kind of versatility that strengthens Alonso’s system.

Well-suited to Alonso’s philosophy of building from the back, Tchouaméni has become a key anchor in Real Madrid’s build-up play thanks to his vision, positional awareness, and defensive instincts.

“For me, it’s the biggest club in the world. So to get the opportunity to play for them, to enjoy every single moment, I would say that it’s definitely an important one for me.”

Tchouaméni also described what a privilege it is to wear the Real Madrid shirt:

“For me, it’s the biggest club in the world. So to get the opportunity to play for them, to enjoy every single moment, I would say that it’s definitely an important one for me.”

Choosing Madrid over Premier League giants

His memories of how his Madrid move unfolded clearly reflect his determination to wear the white shirt. In 2022, several major clubs—including Liverpool—were chasing his signature. According to The Athletic, Liverpool made direct contact with the player, while The Guardian reported that the talks ended quickly and that Tchouaméni had wanted Real Madrid from the start. Fabrizio Romano summarised the situation as follows:

“Liverpool were seriously pushing for Aurélien Tchouaméni but the player only wanted Real Madrid.”

Tchouaméni himself made his feelings clear:

“I was messaging people saying: ‘Please do all you can to take me to Madrid,’”
“‘I can’t not go there.’”

These comments reveal that, for him, joining Real Madrid wasn’t merely a career decision—it was the realisation of a dream.

From Ligue 1 grounding to the world stage

“Obviously, Monaco and Bordeaux helped me to become the player that I am today. But Real Madrid is just different.”

While the French star acknowledges the role Ligue 1 played in his development, he emphasises that his Real Madrid experience is on another level entirely:

“Obviously, Monaco and Bordeaux helped me to become the player that I am today. But Real Madrid is just different. The scrutiny, the dedication that you need, the commitment, the fans all around the world. Every game is about winning, and you play to win titles. It’s just a dream come true.”

For him, there are no more ordinary matches or average seasons. Every game is a final, every season a challenge. The expectations of the fans, the pressure from the media, and the competition within the squad ensure that intensity remains constant.