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Aurelien Tchouameni has dismissed talk of him being the new Paul Pogba and explained why he turned down Paris Saint-Germain to join Real Madrid.
Tchouameni has emerged as another big French talent, prompting Madrid to lure him to Santiago Bernabeu from Monaco for a fee of €80million that could rise to €100m in June.
PSG are among the top European clubs who were also eager to land the midfielder, but he had already agreed to sign for the European champions.
Tchouameni has been likened to France team-mate Pogba, but the 22-year-old does not want to hear those comparisons after making a name for himself.
He told Telefoot: “I am not the new Pogba, I am Aurelien Tchouameni, I try to write my own story. Pogba is a player I followed a lot when he was little and whom I follow a lot. We play in the same position, but there is only one Pogba.”
Tchouameni revealed he had no intention of staying in his homeland with PSG after giving Madrid his word that he would move to the Spanish capital.
He added: “No, no, I didn’t hesitate with PSG. It is also a very big European club, but I had already decided to play for Real Madrid.”
Tchouameni has fierce competition for a place in the Madrid midfield and knows he must grasp his opportunities.
“No matter the price of the transfer, at this club there is always pressure,” he said. “But I’m trying to live up to expectations, to do what I can do on the pitch and so far it’s going quite well.
“It was not me who was in the office to give the numbers of my signing. So whether it’s 80 [million Euros], 60, 40… in the end, when you arrive in Madrid and you’re a starter, you always have to perform.”
Pogba hopes he will be a starter when Les Bleus attempt to retain the World Cup in Qatar.
He said: “I try to contribute to the team, then if [N’Golo] Kante and Pogba return, the coach will be the one I choose and I will always do my best to be the starter.
“I think about the World Cup every day. I’ll try to win points with Real Madrid and then we’ll wait for the list.”
