Kylian Mbappe tried to persuade Aurelien Tchouameni to join Paris Saint-Germain, but he understood his decision to join Real Madrid.
Last week, Madrid completed the signing of Tchouameni from AS Monaco in an initial €80 million deal, with sources telling ESPN that the European champions beat out PSG and Liverpool to get the midfielder.
Mbappe turned off overtures from Real Madrid to extend his contract with PSG earlier this summer, but he was unable to persuade his France colleague to do the same.
Tchouameni remarked at his presentation as a Madrid player on Tuesday, “Kylian decided to stay at PSG and he knew I was leaving Monaco.”
“He wanted to know if I was interested in joining PSG. But Real Madrid was my first option, and he fully understood.”
Tchouameni, 22, has signed a six-year contract at the Santiago Bernabeu and claims he was sold on Madrid from the start, despite interest from PSG and Liverpool.
“I had the option of choosing other teams, but once I found out Real Madrid was interested, I had no doubts,” he added.
“I chatted with other teams, but I was always waiting for Madrid in my brain.” I talked to my agency, my family, and [Monaco] to come up with the greatest deal for everyone.
“Madrid is the largest club in the world, they have an incredible team, and I believe it is the best move I have ever made.”
Tchouameni watched with bated breath as his new club, which also won LaLiga this season, upset PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City en route to their 14th European Cup.
When he was watching the knockout ties, he remarked, “There were already conversations with Madrid at that time.”
“Then, after I saw the games against PSG, Chelsea, and City, I wrote to everyone, pleading with them to do all they could to get me to Real Madrid!”