Former agent of Juventus and Chelsea target Tchouameni: “I met Inter in 2018.”

The former agent of France star and Juventus target Aurelien Tchouameni has talked about Inter’s interest in signing him back in 2018, also discussing the midfielder’s growth as a player.

Tchouameni’s former agent – Gregoire Akcelrod, spoke exclusively to Get Italian Football News about a range of issues involving his former client.

Tchouameni has been linked with Juventus, who see him as a January target but Chelsea and Real Madrid have also been linked with a move for the Monaco youngster. Manchester United were said to be interested back in the summer.

“When I met Aurelien, he was 15 years old, so he was a younger talent. What I liked was his attitude, he kept things simple. But he was not strong physically like he is now. I think he has become stronger physically, becoming more defensive.

“Now he has the physical capacity to be stronger on players, that is why he recovers a lot of balls. He was a lot more attacking when I met him but he was 15 then,” says Akcelrod, discussing the Frenchman’s improvement over time.

Now represented by Excellence Sport Nation, who also represent Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Tchouameni had Akcelrod at quite a young age as his agent.

Akcelrod reveals details about how he first met the midfielder, comparing him to Paul Pogba: The first time I met Aurelien, it was only for talking. We talked for one hour. I could see that he was clever, that he spoke well. He was very mature for someone who was just 15.

“On the second day – when he asked me to come back for the training with Bordeaux Under-17s, I was a little far away. So I made a mistake as I watched a player with yellow boots and he was average. I watched another player who had pink boots and this player reminded me of Paul Pogba. I watched him very carefully and I thought – ‘wow, this player is amazing. I want to be his agent’.

“Because I came to watch the average player but at the end of training, I was waiting for the player with the pink boots. He came to see me and said – “Hi, Greg. How are you?” and this was Aurelien. So I made a mistake but finally, I was very happy when I saw that it was Aurelien. I thought that he was different class.”

It was reported back in 2018 that Inter had tried to sign the Frenchman but had failed. Akcelrod represented the midfielder at that point and he also revealed details about what really happened.

He stated: I met Inter Milan in December 2018 and they were very keen to sign him but at that time, they were burdered by FFP and they could not put too much money on him. I think the transfer could have been done for €3-€5 million.

“And I think that I have regrets now – when I see his development and how he’s playing with the national team in the final against Spain. Inter showed a lot of interest like a few other European clubs, who also wanted to move for him.

“But Aurelien wanted to go step by step – first play for Bordeaux’s first team as he came from their academy. It was a good choice to move to Monaco and after Monaco, it will be a big chance for him to go a bigger club in Italy or England.”

The 21-year-old midfielder has become a regular for the Ligue 1 club now, also having captained them in Europe. In all competitions, he has played 15 times this season and Akcelrod believes that Champions League football will be crucial to his future.

“I don’t know what will happen this summer. It depends on whether Monaco play the Champions League – in the best European competition. I think his goal will be to play in the Champions League with Monaco or maybe another club,” he reveals.

It has been stated that Juve are preparing a move for the player in January and Chelsea are also expected to move for the midfielder. But as things stand, the 21-year-old remains one of the hottest properties in world football.

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