Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that it is "normal" for Aurelien Tchouameni to have found it difficult to show consistency for Los Blancos this season.
The 23-year-old made a big-money move to Bernabeu from Monaco last summer, with the midfielder believed to have turned down interest from a number of clubs, including Liverpool and Chelsea, to complete a switch to Los Blancos.
Tchouameni has made 48 appearances for Real Madrid this season, contributing four assists, but he has been in and out of the side in the second half of the campaign.
The France international did not start for the capital giants in the knockout round of the Champions League, with all five of his appearances coming off the bench.
Tchouameni's future has recently been called into question, with Liverpool thought to be considering reigniting their interest during the summer transfer window.
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Jude Bellingham is also set to move to Real Madrid in a big-money deal from Borussia Dortmund, which has fuelled suggestions that Tchouameni could be on his way out.
However, Los Blancos allegedly have no plans to sell the Frenchman, and Ancelotti has insisted that he has no concerns surrounding the midfielder, who is still settling into life at Bernabeu.
"The truth is that he surprised everyone in the first part of the season. He is very young and arrived at Madrid, he has to adapt and he came to replace a legend like Casemiro. After the World Cup, his level dropped," Ancelotti told reporters on Friday.
"For me, he is not the third option in the pivot. He's a player who has to get used to adapting a bit more.
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"His first part of the season was spectacular, then he dropped but that's normal for a young player when he arrives at Real Madrid."
Ancelotti was also asked about Nacho on Friday, with the 33-year-old's contract due to expire next month.
The versatile defender has again been a regular this season, making 42 appearances in all competitions, and he has seemingly been offered a new deal at Bernabeu.
"His future is in his own hands. He has everyone's affection. He can contribute a lot to the squad. I think the club has spoken to him about renewing his contract and he is thinking about it. It's in his hand. There is one week to go and everything will be cleared up," added the Real Madrid boss.
Los Blancos will be aiming to make it back-to-back wins in La Liga when they head to Sevilla on Saturday, but the capital giants will be without the services of Dani Carvajal, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior, Mariano Diaz and Marco Asensio for the contest.
Matt Law
