France national team head coach Didier Deschamps is backing midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni to start performing well for his club Real Madrid.
The 23-year-old joined Real Madrid this summer in an €80 million deal from AS Monaco. The club brought him in for the departing Casemiro.
However, Tchouameni has blown hot and cold for Los Blancos. He initially showed the ball-winning and carrying talent he possesses.
However, since the 2022 World Cup, he has looked like a shadow of the player that won the 2020/21 Best Young Player in Ligue 1 award.
Tchouameni has struggled with illness and injury since returning from Qatar, where he was imperious for France.
He was the lynchpin for France in midfield in the absence of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante.
Despite his struggles, his national team manager believes the best is still to come for Tchouameni at Madrid.
Deschamps said (via L’Equipe): “Aurelien is not in the best period for many reasons.
“He had a very good World Cup. He has felt some after-effects, a small muscular worry.
“There is a lot of competition (at Real Madrid). He has had less playing time. But I have complete faith in Aurelien because of what he is capable of doing.
“That does not mean I am not looking at others (different midfield options).”
Tchouameni will likely start France’s game against the Netherlands tomorrow as Les Bleus begin their 2024 European Championship qualifying campaign.
Deschamps and Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti are backing the former Bordeaux midfielder, and he’ll want to start delivering immediately.
The young midfielder is only adapting to his new surroundings. It is his first campaign in La Liga, and he also has big boots to fill.
Hopefully, he can start showing his best version of himself when the Oranje come around.
France will hope to start their Euro 2024 qualifiers well against tough opposition before facing Ireland on Monday.
