Kylian Mbappe and Eduardo Camavinga are at the top of Real Madrid’s wishlist, but who is the priority for Los Blancos?
Real Madrid’s long term transfer target Eduardo Camavinga of Rennes continues to impress, and his recent national team call-up brings us to look at how he getting him might be a bigger priority for Real Madrid than forward Kylian Mbappe of PSG.
Eduardo Camavinga, a center midfielder, has been a long term target for Los Blancos and the 17-year-old is starting to prove why he is a player that would be an asset for any team in Europe. With Bayern and PSG keeping an eye on the French wonder kid, Real are still confident of getting their player due to his desire to wait till 2021 when Real come calling.
Having earned his first national team call up recently, Camavinga has begun this season where he left off in the last season. The 17-year-old celebrated his international call up with a stellar solo goal against Montpellier that had the fans off their seats.
As Europe’s elite clubs start taking note of his abilities, Real Madrid should look at making him a priority signing ahead of Kylian Mbappe, here’s why.
Position of Play
In recent years, Casemiro has shown that the role he plays at Madrid is an essential element. The Brazilian allows players like Modric and Kroos to dictate play with a sense of security, which is often absent when he is not in the squad.
The defensive midfielder position needs strengthening, keeping in mind the fact that Madrid are expected to compete across multiple competitions. Camavinga seems to be the perfect choice, as his age allows Los Blancos to ease him into their plans, as they have done with most youngsters in recent years.
The French youngster is a two-way midfielder who is comfortable with the ball as much as he is without it. He features as the deepest midfielder in the 4-4-2 formation that Rennes usually play in, his ability to command the space behind the attack and shield the defense when the opposition breaks the first line of pressure is an asset to any team. A defensive midfielder who can add to the play at both ends of the pitch is a rare breed, add to this his pace allows him to recover lost ground and aids his excellent ball-winning abilities.
When it comes to Kylian Mbappe, the Frenchman doesn’t represent an orthodox No. 9. He has often played on the wings for Paris Saint Germain and even with the French team he has played in a role that supports Oliver Giroud, who uses his ability to win the first ball and draws the center backs out of position, creating space for Mbappe to run into from the wings.
Although his talent allows him to play across the front line and when it comes to the wings, Real Madrid have the Brazilian duo of Vinicius and Rodrygo who have shown that they have the potential to develop their game and run riot on the wings for years to come. It would make much more sense for Real to bring in an out and out forward to complement the strengths of the Brazilians, which is why Erling Haaland has been touted as a likelier successor to Karim Benzema.
Lack of genuine alternatives
Camavinga’s recent call up to the French national team shows that he is nothing less than a generational talent. There are a few players who have the ability to do what he can in his position in world football and probably none aged 17.
Casemiro’s role in recent years at Real has shown the importance of the defensive midfielder in maintaining the balance and allowing others around them to work better. With Valverde and Odegaard with him, Camavinga could form a lethal midfield. This in turn could assure years of success on the field for Los Blancos, as the trio of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Casemiro continues to be central to Real’s performances.
The are fewer midfielders who are made in the mould of Camavinga than genuine goal scoring forwards. The 17-year-old has displayed immense maturity on the field. His discipline in positioning and quick thinking, combined with his energy allow him to command tons of space vertically and also emerge as the winner in most ‘1v1’ duels.
He is a dynamic presence, who can cut off passing lanes with ease. With age on his side and room for development to add to the already impressive physical aspects of his game. In terms of competition, both PSG and Bayern are keeping tabs on the youngster. It would be a much more pleasant situation to have Camavinga lining up for Real rather than other European powerhouses as it could pose challenges in terms of competition.
Financial aspects of the deal
Real Madrid President Florentino Perez is an astute operator when it comes to transfers and finances, however even Real Madrid have been hit hard with the impact of the coronavirus like all other sporting institutions. PSG are willing to make superstar forward Kylian Mbappe their poster boy, keeping in mind his relationship with the city of Paris.
The project at PSG is a lucrative one for Mbappe both on and off the pitch and it puts Real’s pursuit of Mbappe in a precarious position. On the other hand, the financial aspect of the deal in the case of Eduardo Camavinga seems much more positive. Even the player is keen on a move next season, and he has seemingly communicated this to his current club amid interest from PSG. A deal next season would be ideal for all parties involved including Rennes and the player as well, as it would allow him to get the opportunity to add to his game before making the switch to the Bernabeu.
As Camavinga looks set to stay at Rennes for another year, one hopes that he continues the stellar performances that have put him on Real Madrid’s radar in the first place.