Real Madrid star’s 250-day metamorphosis: is he now the team’s MVP?

In just 250 days, Aurélien Tchouaméni has undergone a remarkable transformation from a jeered player to a vital tactical piece for Xabi Alonso. On November 5, 2024, he endured a nightmare performance for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, being booed off the pitch at halftime after costly mistakes against Milan. This marked a low point, with intense criticism following him for weeks.

The turning point arrived on January 16 in a Copa del Rey match against Celta. Despite whistles when his name was announced, Tchouaméni delivered an outstanding performance, signaling the start of his resurgence. His recovery began step by step from this point onward.

Today, Tchouaméni is indispensable in Xabi Alonso's system. He operates as a pivot and a third center-back alongside Huijsen, a complex and demanding role that allows Alonso to implement a three-center-back formation. Tchouaméni has excelled, becoming a "compass" for the team and consistently performing well, even standing out during difficult team performances like the loss to PSG, where he led in passes completed (36) and was second in ball recoveries (5). His pass accuracy in this role is nearly 98%.

Within the club, Tchouaméni is now viewed as irreplaceable due to a lack of natural backup. Güler is learning the number 6 role, Valverde has filled in unconvincingly, and Camavinga appears better suited to an interior position than Tchouaméni's specific pivot/third center-back role. The club's failure to sign Zubimendi further underscores Tchouaméni's essential status.

This dramatic shift, from being a targeted player seemingly at rock bottom 250 days ago to becoming an undisputed starter and tactical cornerstone, highlights his extraordinary turnaround.