“Now it’s war between us.” The ironic message posted on social networks by the new Madrid native Aurélien Tchouameni, this summer, at the announcement of the signing of Jules Koundé with the Barcelona rival will take on its full meaning on Sunday, October 16, when the two childhood friend will present themselves, face to face, on the lawn of the Santiago-Bernabeu for the first clasico of their careers.
Close from the Bordeaux training center, midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni and defender Jules Koundé share the same agent, the same trajectory and go on vacation together… However, during the most watched club match in the world, neither of the two don’t want to give themselves a present.
They started in Bordeaux.
They made the France team together.
They will make the Clasico against each other.
Nice climb for Koundé and Tchouaméni. pic.twitter.com/Kq5yn2yzxq
– News Foot (@ActuFoot_) July 28, 2022
The two friends have known each other since 2013, when Koundé arrived atat the Girondins training center. At that time, Tchouameni had already been there for two years but it was the future Barcelonan who imposed himself the fastest, even taking an armband of capitaine that he will keep in almost all youth teams.
However, it was not until the 2016-2017 season that the duo revealed itself. Worn by Koundé and Tchouameni, the news golden generation dare U19 Bordeaux remains unbeaten all year and qualifies for the Youth League, the Under-19 Champions League, after an almost perfect championship. What to dream higher for the two future internationals.
Five years later, after a common year spent in the pro group in Bordeaux, and successful flights respectively in Monaco and Seville, Tchouaméni and Koundé therefore find themselves in two of the biggest clubs in the world.
But adaptation is more difficult for Jules Koundé, who has more frequented the Barça infirmary than the training grounds ofsince the start of the current fiscal year. Rather good in the five games he has played since his arrival, the defender was however forced to (again) rest due to a left thigh injury that occurred during the last gathering of the Blues, on September 22, against Austria.
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But as Barca’s patched-up defense surrendered guilty of the three goals scored on Wednesday by Inter Milan at Camp Nou (3-3), the former Sevillian, who resumed training on Thursday, could regain his starting spot on Sunday. And this, thanks to his versatility, an asset that could allow him to take the axis instead of the disappointing Eric Garcia and Gérard Pique, even‘he mainly played right back under Xavi.
For his part, Tchouameni did not wait to prove himself indispensable to Real Madrid. Since Casemiro left for Manchester United this summer, Carlo Ancelotti has been forced to speed up the adaptation process for the young French midfielder. But propelled holder in the center of a luxury midfielder, made up of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, the former Monegasque did not fail. Better, he enchanted.
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“He has quality, he is very solid in duels, very strong in aerial play. He has technique and projects well into the opposing box. We must also take advantage of his shots from distance.explained Carlo Ancelotti, on August 19th. He needs to improve but this player is ready to play for Real Madrid.”.
And it is not the Brazilians Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, to whom Tchouaméni has each distributed an offering since the start of the season, who will say the opposite. The two attackers also hope that the French international will send them new caviars on Sunday, during the most anticipated meeting of the season by the two squads. But not sure, however, that Jules Koundé does not hear it that way.