Xabi Alonso calls Aurelien Tchouameni as cornerstone in his plans at Real Madrid

Aurelien Tchouameni has been one of the shining stars of the Real Madrid setup in recent years. The French midfielder has played across the midfield and defensive line, living up to his potential. While he didn't have consistent game time, he never shied away from new responsibilities under Carlo Ancelotti. Tchouaméni has a new admirer in Xabi Alonso. The new Real Madrid gaffer has praised him and called him the cornerstone of the team.

Ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup fixture against Pachuca, the newly appointed Xabi Alonso mentioned that the French midfielder is an important player in his setup and will be a cornerstone of the team. He highlighted his willingness to learn and improve. This has come because of recent rumors stating Tchouameni is looking beyond Real Madrid in the ongoing summer transfer window. Xabi Alonso said:

Tchouaméni will be a cornerstone of my team

He is very important,

His willingness to learn and improve is very important

When asked about Vinícius Jr, who has grown by leaps and bounds in the last two years, Xabi Alonso mentioned that the player is a well-rounded individual but just needs help in being decisive with the ball. Xabi Alonso also mentioned that Vinícius Jr has a different profile and his unpredictability brings a lot to the table. He mentioned that whenever the Brazilian is having fun on the pitch, he helps the side a lot. Xabi said:

Vini? Vini is doing well. We just need to help him be more decisive

He’s a very different player, very unpredictable, and when he has fun, he helps the team a lot

How did Real Madrid fare in their second FIFA Club World Cup game? 

After being held to a draw by Al Hilal in their first game, Real Madrid registered a comprehensive 3-1 win against Pachuca. Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler scored in the first half whereas Federico Valverde scored the third one to put the game to bed.