Aurelien Tchouameni has finalized his big-money move from Monaco to Real Madrid, the European and Spanish champions.
The 22-year-old emerging star is brimming with talent, and after a good stint in Ligue 1, the defensive midfielder's future looks bright.
Tchouameni's arrival, along with academy graduates Federico Valverde, 23, and Eduardo Camavinga, 19, is part of Real's midfield makeover.
We examine what distinguishes their new signing as a unique talent and how he will fit into Carlo Ancelotti's plans.
These are some impressive figures.
With his hefty price tag and the pressure to perform in front of the Bernabeu's adoring supporters, Tchouameni has a lot riding on his shoulders.
His numbers in a Monaco shirt last season were remarkable, and if he can repeat that form in Madrid, he should have no trouble settling in.
Tchouameni's position and style of play are the most similar to Casemiro's among the current Real crop, which means he has large shoes to fill, as the Brazilian is crucial to their midfield's defensive duties.
In his 35 league appearances, Tchouameni ranked first in Ligue 1 for interceptions, averaging 3.1 per 90 minutes, which compares favorably to Casemiro's 1.33 per 90.
Aurelien Tchouameni is expected to succeed Casemiro at Real Madrid.
Aurelien Tchouameni is expected to succeed Casemiro at Real Madrid.
There aren't many players who can equal his interceptions totals, demonstrating his exceptional positional play and game reading.
Tchouameni has made less tackles than the South American veteran, but his figures last season were comparable to the likes of Marco Verratti and Bruno Guimaraes of Paris Saint-Germain before he left Lyon, ranking joint-10th in Ligue 1.
Standing an inch taller than Casemiro at 6ft 2in, there's no reason why the Frenchman can't improve in aerial duels, especially if he bulks up in size, despite his statistics being far from impressive.
They are both highly similar players in general, which suggests that Madrid may have struck gold with yet another great deal.
Adaptation
Tchouameni made 50 appearances for Monaco in all competitions last season, missing only three games, which is wonderful news for Madrid fans.
Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Casemiro, Real's central midfield trio, have been outstanding performers, winning 14 Champions League trophies between them and giving the club their prime years as players.
However, with all three players being in their 30s, it is unsurprising to see Los Blancos invest in a headline signing for the future in this position.
Tchouameni's ability to make an immediate impact in the starting XI is debatable, as he may require time to adjust in his first season away from his hometown.
With such a high price tag, it's safe to assume that his move to the Bernabeu will see him play a bigger role in the team next season than Camavinga, who made many appearances from the bench previous season.
The heat map of Aurelien Tchouameni shows his tremendous activity in all areas of midfield.
The heat map of Aurelien Tchouameni shows his tremendous activity in all areas of midfield.
As shown in the heat map above, he covers a lot of territory in midfield, especially in the deeper region on the left side where Kroos generally plays.
While Ancelotti is likely to rotate him with Casemiro, he may also substitute in for the German, who missed eight league games last season due to injury.
Tchouameni has recently started for France on the left side of defensive midfield, starting in the 2-1 loss to Denmark and the 1-1 draw with Croatia in the Nations League.
With 95 games for Monaco over the last two seasons and nine international appearances under his belt, it will come as no surprise if Tchouameni fits in in with the Madrid group.
A promising future
Madrid's next generation of Galacticos is taking shape, and Tchouameni's signing is a clear statement of intent.
There is no better moment for the Bernabeu club to capitalise on their success after winning a record 14th Champions League title and finishing 13 points ahead of Barcelona last season.
Given their aging midfield and Tchouameni's potential at such a young age, Tchouameni's transfer is surely sound business.
That makes him a thrilling coup — even if Real supporters are still bitter about the failed capture of Kylian Mbappe.
However, it is apparent that the Frenchman and his new club have a bright future ahead of them as they seek to continue their reign of terror in Spain and Europe.
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