Casemiro drops a bold statement about Aurélien Tchouaméni : “A six must be…”

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper Diario AS, Casemiro, former midfield general of Real Madrid, gave straightforward advice to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who has inherited his number 14 shirt since his departure.

Having left for Manchester United in 2022 after nearly eight years of loyal service at Real Madrid, Carlos Henrique Casemiro returned to Spain a few days ago. Currently injured and therefore sidelined from Premier League action, the former midfield powerhouse of Madrid spoke to journalist Tomás Roncero from Diario AS. In the extensive interview, where he also discussed the upcoming Champions League knockout clash between Carlo Ancelotti’s team and Pep Guardiola’s side, Casemiro focused on Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is expected to be his successor.

“It’s better not to seek the spotlight”

Aware of the enormous responsibility weighing on the young French midfielder’s shoulders, Casemiro shared his advice. Eager to see Aurélien Tchouaméni shine as he once did, the five-time Champions League winner emphasised that the current number 14 at Real must accept doing the “dirty” work for the good of the team. “I would tell him that if he wants to have a leadership role, it’s better not to seek the spotlight. Someone has to suffer, someone has to sacrifice themselves. I knew I had to sacrifice myself, cover for the full-backs, the midfielders… Real Madrid’s number six must be positional. That’s how he will have significance,” said the 32-year-old Brazilian.

It must be said that Tchouaméni has been performing well in Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Since his arrival in 2022, the former AS Monaco player has been striving to prove he can succeed at a club like Real Madrid. Despite some challenging periods, the 25-year-old remains a key figure in the Italian coach’s starting eleven. Since November, when he was repositioned in defence as a temporary solution, Tchouaméni has been holding his ground as best he can. Despite rumours suggesting the Madrid board might consider his departure, Aurélien is expected to continue his adventure in Madrid beyond this season.

To truly assess the Frenchman, he needs to play consistently in his natural defensive midfield role, just as Casemiro did in his time. In this second half of the season, Tchouaméni will be a crucial component in Real Madrid’s midfield. Hopefully, defensive injuries will ease, allowing him to return to his preferred position, which he values so much.