Aurelien Tchouameni praised by Claude Makelele as Real Madrid’s most consistent player
Makelele hails Tchouameni’s season-long consistency and flags Real Madrid’s need for a ball-carrying midfielder to fully unlock Kylian Mbappé under José Mourinho.
Real Madrid veteran Claude Makelele has publicly endorsed Aurelien Tchouameni as the club’s most consistent performer over the past season, saying the French midfielder was “the only consistent player from beginning to end.”
Makelele’s assessment, given in an interview with DAZN, arrives as Real Madrid navigates a summer of squad review and tactical recalibration under new manager José Mourinho.
The endorsement places Tchouameni at the center of transfer speculation and raises fresh questions about the shape of Madrid’s midfield ahead of the 2026–27 campaign.
Makelele singles out Aurelien Tchouameni for season-long consistency
Makelele’s praise focused on the solidity Tchouameni provided in a campaign that otherwise produced uneven displays from several high-profile teammates.
The former defensive midfielder stressed that Madrid lacked other players who matched Tchouameni’s regularity across a busy calendar of domestic and European fixtures.
That public backing is notable because Tchouameni has faced scrutiny and been linked to potential moves away amid squad reshuffling discussions this summer.
Transfer implications for Real Madrid’s summer planning
Tchouameni’s endorsement complicates the calculus for sporting directors weighing potential sales or swaps this window.
Those inside and outside the club had reportedly considered bodies such as Eduardo Camavinga in larger maneuvers to make way for attacking additions this summer.
A strong public recommendation from a respected former Madrid anchor strengthens the argument for retaining Tchouameni as a cornerstone of the midfield spine.
Mourinho supported but told he needs specific midfield tools
Makelele offered measured support for Mourinho’s return, describing him as “a good coach, one of the best coaches,” while stressing the limits of coaching without the correct player profile.
The central caveat was tactical: Mourinho can extract results from a squad only if given personnel suited to his preferred transitions and positional demands.
Makelele identified a precise shortfall at Real Madrid — a midfielder who can carry the ball under pressure and connect forward quickly — and argued that such a profile is essential to Mourinho’s plans.
The tactical problem: who will break lines for Madrid?
According to Makelele, Madrid currently lacks a midfielder who routinely drives possessions through congested midfield areas and delivers fast vertical passes to attackers.
He referenced the kind of role Ángel Di María and Mesut Özil occupied in Mourinho’s first Madrid tenure, linking possession progression directly to goal threat for the front line.
Without that line-breaking runner, the team risks allowing attackers to drop too deep and lose the forward momentum needed to unsettle organized defences.
Kylian Mbappé debate reframed as structural, not purely individual
Makelele pushed back on criticism of Kylian Mbappé, arguing that some scrutiny ignores systemic issues affecting striker positioning and output.
He noted that Mbappé often drops to collect the ball, a symptom rather than the root cause, and suggested a vertical, carrying midfielder would keep Mbappé higher and more dangerous.
Framed this way, the solution to perceived underperformance becomes recruitment and tactical adjustment, rather than simply questioning the forward’s commitment or finishing.
How a ball-carrying midfielder could reshape Madrid’s attack
A midfielder capable of breaking lines would bridge the gap between defensive solidity and attacking potency, according to Makelele’s analysis.
Such a player would relieve the load on wide forwards, allow Mbappé to remain in more central goal-scoring positions, and create faster transitions from turnover to threat.
For Mourinho, whose systems often rely on structured defensive phases combined with rapid forward thrusts, that specific midfield archetype is a clear priority.
Squad balance and the long-term midfield blueprint
Retaining a defensive presence like Tchouameni while adding a progressive carrier presents both financial and tactical dilemmas for club leadership.
Madrid faces the task of balancing immediate competitiveness with sustainable squad architecture, particularly with several first-team figures attracting summer attention.
Any incoming profile must not only fit Mourinho’s short-term match plans but also align with a multi-season midfield blueprint that protects athletic longevity and tactical flexibility.
Real Madrid’s summer strategy will require reconciling competing needs: keeping consistent performers such as Aurelien Tchouameni, securing a midfielder with progressive carrying attributes, and maintaining attacking firepower for a coach who prioritizes both organization and swift offensive transitions.
Makelele’s remarks make clear that personnel decisions are not merely transactional; they are decisive for the way Mourinho will deploy his side and for how forwards like Kylian Mbappé will be positioned to score.
