Often, to gauge a player’s potential at present, we must remember the vision we had of him when he started. Explosion during his first steps with Rennes at just 17 years old in 2019, Eduardo Camavinga was destined to accomplish very great things in football. Arriving at Real Madrid in 2021, the midfielder plays a fairly important role in the Champions League coronation with almost impactful entries each time. Since that season, the native of Miconje alternates between good and less good. Whether with Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso or Alvaro Arbeloa, Camavinga has never been able to exploit his full potential. Often on the bench, Camavinga has seen the competition overtake him over the years. Last season, the player trained in Rennes surely had the worst vintage of his career.
Substitute almost every time, Camavinga notably sabotaged his team with a stupid expulsion against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. An error which had damaged his confidence and which had weakened him even more. For all these reasons, Didier Deschamps decided to do without him during the last World Cup. An anomaly as the projections were great around Camavinga when he started in Brittany. Under the leadership of José Mourinho, Camavinga has played more since the start of the season. Spared by physical glitches, he also manages to show interesting things. With this slight return to form, Zinedine Zidane decided to summon him for his first meeting on the Blues bench. A choice which ultimately proved more than fruitful.
Madrid ignites with Zidane-Camavinga connection
Author of a quality rally with brilliant starts, Camavinga was still the starter this Monday evening at the Stade de France against Belgium. The 23-year-old delivered a high-flying performance during the Blues’ resounding success against Belgium (4-1). Author of 88 minutes of very high level, the midfielder reigned supreme over the French midfield. With admirable cleanliness marked by 89% successful passes and no less than 11 sharp transmissions to the final third, he was the hub through which all French offensives took shape, dictating the tempo of the match with disarming ease and calm.
Alongside a good Manu Koné, the French international displayed an impressive volume of play to stifle the Belgian attempts for most of the match. A true ball catcher, Camavinga multiplied all over the field to sign 8 recoveries in addition to 4 interceptions. A return to the high level which capsizes Madrid. In Spain, many people on social media have started to get excited about the return to form of Camavinga, who is described as transformed by Zinedine Zidane. One thing is certain, the midfielder has most likely already booked his ticket for the Blues’ next gatherings.
