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Years after his Premier League departure, José Mourinho continues to get under Manchester United's skin. The persuasive charm campaign launched by the newly appointed Real Madrid boss was reportedly a major factor in why Aurélien Tchouaméni is now expected to pen a contract extension in the Spanish capital rather than make the switch to Old Trafford.
Tchouaméni's future at Real Madrid had seemed uncertain after the French international became embroiled in a physical altercation with teammate Federico Valverde at the close of last season. The Uruguayan midfielder required hospital treatment following the incident.
That internal clash was one of the primary drivers behind Florentino Pérez's very public decision to bring in a strong-willed figure like Mourinho, and it seems the 'Special One' has already begun making his mark.
Amid growing interest from Manchester United, Mourinho made it crystal clear to Tchouaméni just how central he would be to his new vision, reportedly calling the unsettled midfielder a "key player," according to ESPN. That conversation has similarly been described as "key" in persuading the 26-year-old to stay.
Mourinho's admiration for Tchouaméni is believed to go beyond his on-field abilities, extending to his character away from the game. Fabrizio Romano revealed on his YouTube channel that the Portuguese tactician regards the defensive midfielder as one of his "fighters with a top mentality."
Assembling a squad built around "warriors" is a well-known Mourinho strategy. Countless former players from Porto, Chelsea, and Inter have praised the way the part-coach, part-psychologist cultivated a siege mentality, rallying his squad against a perceived — often manufactured — common enemy to forge unity and purpose.
Tchouaméni is a driven individual who takes pride in continuous self-improvement. He is known to study athletes from other sports in search of the keys to their success, drawing inspiration from New Zealand's All Blacks rugby side and a host of NBA stars. "Get up every day and be better than yesterday" is a motto he frequently returns to.
Tchouaméni's Reported New Real Madrid Salary
As persuasive as Mourinho can be, Tchouaméni's decision to extend his stay at Real Madrid is also believed to have been influenced by the financial offer placed before him.
While some reports initially suggested a staggering pay increase to an annual net salary of $14.8 million (€13 million), AS has since claimed that Tchouaméni will earn somewhere in the region of $10.3 million (€9 million).
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Given that Tchouaméni previously earned around $7.5 million (€6.6 million), the financial incentive is evident.
Concerns had already been mounting at Manchester United over whether the club could realistically meet the transfer fee Real Madrid would demand. Now that Tchouaméni is firmly off the market, United can at least set those worries aside.