Aurelien Tchouameni "happy" at Real Madrid after testing 2022-23 season

Aurelien Tchouameni has expressed his happiness at Real Madrid, with the midfielder starting all four of his side's La Liga matches at the start of the 2023-24 campaign.

The 23-year-old made 50 appearances for Carlo Ancelotti's side last season, but he was not considered to be a starter in the latter stages of his side's Champions League campaign, with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos both firmly ahead of him in the pecking order.

There was speculation surrounding Tchouameni's future earlier this year, with a number of clubs believed to have been closely monitoring his situation at Bernabeu.

Both Liverpool and Chelsea are long-term admirers of the France international, and it is thought that the pair made contact with Real Madrid this summer to discuss a possible move.

However, Ancelotti is believed to have made it clear that Tchouameni would be a starter this season and that has proved to be the case despite Jude Bellingham's arrival.

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Bellingham has played as an advanced midfielder this season, with Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde now regarded as the first-choice midfield three.

Modric and Kroos are set to play reduced roles this season, and Tchouameni is delighted that he has now managed to fully establish himself in the first-choice XI.

"Everything is going well at Real Madrid, I am performing well, and I have playing time, I am happy," Tchouameni told Saber Desfarges while on international duty with France.

"As long as you don't doubt yourself, and you continue to work, things will fall into place as they should."

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Tchouameni played the full 90 minutes against Athletic Bilbao and Almeria in Real Madrid's first two league games of the season before being substituted in the second half of the games with Celta Vigo and Getafe.

Meanwhile, the midfielder was on the scoresheet in France's 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in Thursday's Euro 2024 qualification match.

Tchouameni has another five years left to run on his contract in the Spanish capital, and it is thought that he had no intention of leaving the club after one season despite his inconsistency last term.

The midfielder made 95 appearances for Monaco during his time with the Ligue 1 side, scoring eight goals and registering seven assists in the process.

Tchouameni will be back in club action when Real Madrid resume their La Liga campaign at home to Real Sociedad on September 17.