Claude Makelele has used an interview with DAZN to back Aurélien Tchouaméni as Real Madrid's most reliable performer of the past season, defend Kylian Mbappé from his critics, and identify the specific midfield profile Los Blancos are still lacking under José Mourinho.
The former Madrid holding midfielder was unambiguous in his ***** sment of Tchouaméni's campaign, telling DAZN: "Tchouameni was the only consistent player from beginning to end." It is a notable endorsement given the scrutiny Tchouaméni has faced at various points since his arrival from Monaco, including the well-publicised friction with Fede Valverde earlier this year.
Makelele's backing also carries weight in the context of Madrid's transfer planning. Reports from earlier in the summer indicated Tchouaméni's future was part of broader squad restructuring discussions, with Tchouaméni and Camavinga named in connection with potential movement as the club pursued Michael Olise. Makelele's public endorsement complicates any case for moving him on.
Makelele expressed confidence in Mourinho's return to the Bernabéu while making clear that elite coaching alone will not be sufficient. "Mourinho isn't stupid, he's a good coach, one of the best coaches," he told DAZN. "He knows he's going to need a strong team to win La Liga."
That caveat feeds directly into what Makelele regards as Madrid's most pressing structural problem: the absence of a midfielder who can carry the ball through pressure and connect quickly with the front line. "At Real Madrid, there isn't that type of midfielder who carries the ball and breaks lines," he said. "They need a player like that, who can deliver quick passes to the attackers, to himself, to Vinicius Junior, and to the players up front." It is the kind of profile Mourinho himself prioritised during his first spell at Madrid, when Ángel Di María and Mesut Özil provided exactly that vertical link between midfield and attack.
The former Madrid holding midfielder was unambiguous in his ***** sment of Tchouaméni's campaign, telling DAZN: "Tchouameni was the only consistent player from beginning to end." It is a notable endorsement given the scrutiny Tchouaméni has faced at various points since his arrival from Monaco, including the well-publicised friction with Fede Valverde earlier this year.
Makelele's backing also carries weight in the context of Madrid's transfer planning. Reports from earlier in the summer indicated Tchouaméni's future was part of broader squad restructuring discussions, with Tchouaméni and Camavinga named in connection with potential movement as the club pursued Michael Olise. Makelele's public endorsement complicates any case for moving him on.
Makelele expressed confidence in Mourinho's return to the Bernabéu while making clear that elite coaching alone will not be sufficient. "Mourinho isn't stupid, he's a good coach, one of the best coaches," he told DAZN. "He knows he's going to need a strong team to win La Liga."
That caveat feeds directly into what Makelele regards as Madrid's most pressing structural problem: the absence of a midfielder who can carry the ball through pressure and connect quickly with the front line. "At Real Madrid, there isn't that type of midfielder who carries the ball and breaks lines," he said. "They need a player like that, who can deliver quick passes to the attackers, to himself, to Vinicius Junior, and to the players up front." It is the kind of profile Mourinho himself prioritised during his first spell at Madrid, when Ángel Di María and Mesut Özil provided exactly that vertical link between midfield and attack.
4 months ago
