Tchouaméni pens Real Madrid contract, to wear No. 18 shirt

(Update 1: Adds Mbappé comments)

Madrid, Jun 14 (EFE).- Real Madrid’s eagerly awaited new signing Aurélien Tchouaméni on Tuesday said he was keen to begin his new chapter with the LaLiga and Champions League champions.

The French international, 22, offered a few words — in Spanish — after signing his contract that will keep him at the Santiago Bernabéu until 2028.

“I’m really happy to be here, to begin my story with Real Madrid, the best club in the world,” the former AS Monaco told an audience that included the club’s president Florentino Pérez.

Tchouaméni, a defensive midfielder, will kick off his Real Madrid career wearing the number 18 shirt, which was freed up by the departure of Gareth Bale.

During a press conference later in his presentation, the French player said that before his move to Madrid was confirmed, he had been contacted by Kylian Mbappé.

“Kylian decided to stay at Paris Saint-Germain, and he knew that I was going to leave Monaco at the end of the season. He wanted to know if I could go to PSG, but I told him my first choice was always Madrid and he understood it perfectly. He’s happy for me,” he said of his international teammate.

Mbappé had also been heavily linked to a Real Madrid move this year, until he eventually decided to extend his contract with the Ligue 1 side.

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