Manchester United backed away from Aurélien Tchouaméni because of salary concerns, with the club worried about the knock-on effect on its pay structure. That opened the door to Carlos Baleba, who was sold internally as the better long-term value. United went on to pay £70m for the Brighton midfielder, while Baleba is four years younger than Tchouaméni.

The Tchouaméni hesitation

According to Samuel Luckhurst of teamtalk.com, Tchouaméni was United’s ideal target, but there was concern the numbers could spiral and that bringing in the Real Madrid midfielder could upset the salary structure. That lines up with one important detail: Tchouaméni agreed a new contract with Real Madrid back in July, so any move would already have meant dealing with a strong position from his current club.

Luckhurst’s wording is clear enough on the club’s thinking. "Aurelien Tchouameni was United’s ideal target but there was concern the numbers could spiral and the arrival of a Real Madrid talent could upset United’s salary structure," he said.

Why Baleba became the easier sell

The pitch for Baleba was built differently. A source familiar with the negotiations said, "He felt genuinely wanted," and added, "And he felt they understood the player he is and the one he wants to become." Another source summed it up more directly: "The conversations were about football and about growth, not about status."

That approach fits the age gap too. Baleba is four years younger than Tchouaméni, which makes him a cleaner long-term bet if the club wanted to avoid another salary jump at the top end of the squad. The £70m fee is still a big outlay, but it sits inside a profile United could sell more easily than a move for a decorated Real Madrid midfielder.

The midfield spending did not stop there. United also paid £50m for Andrey Santos, and Youri Tielemans cost £35m, so the club still committed heavily to the area even after stepping away from Tchouaméni.

If United were looking for a way to add quality without upsetting the structure, Baleba was the one they chose. He was the younger option, the more winnable deal, and the one they could frame around development rather than status.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →