Should Real Madrid try to sign Eduardo Camavinga in summer 2021?

Real Madrid have two dream transfer targets on their radar for the summer 2021 window, and they are both attackers. Either Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland, with the latter being more realistic, would transform the club’s struggling attack, which has failed to replace Cristiano Ronaldo since his departure in 2018. Of course, Real could hypothetically reunite with Ronaldo, though it would be better to live in the future rather than the past.

As a whole, Florentino Perez has targeted signing younger players over the last couple of years as part of a new transfer strategy, and he’s starting to realize that he must be more restrictive in who he recruits. And especially now during this pandemic, Real must be careful with how they spend.

Eduardo Camavinga was seen as a dream option in midfield for Real Madrid, mentioned in just as many rumors as Mbappe or Haaland in 2020. Much of the talk around the Rennes midfielder has cooled off, as he’s not been quite as electrifying in 2020-2021, though he’s still been solid for the Ligue 1 side.

Recently, Anton Meana stated on El Larguero that with Camavinga’s contract set to run out at the end of the 2021-2022 season, those around the midfielder believe that the summer 2021 window is the best time for the player to make the move to Real Madrid. Last summer, there were rumblings of a transfer, but Los Blancos were not in the business of making any signings, and Rennes seemed adamant not to sell.

Eduardo Camavinga is a great young player, but Real Madrid do not have the space for him in midfield

So there could be a bigger opening in 2021 with just one year left on the 18-year-old’s contract. He may want to make a move from Rennes, and Rennes would pretty much have to sell if they cannot sign him to an extension, though that cannot be ruled out even after his favored manager left.

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Camavinga is a wonderful talent. As we saw in his breakout 2019-2020 campaign, he has all the tools to become one of the best midfielders in the world. The problem is that Real Madrid don’t really have the space for him.

Luka Modric is still one of the best midfielders in the world. Toni Kroos is just as good. Casemiro is an elite defensive midfielder. Fede Valverde is fourth on the list and is good enough to start for any team on this planet. Martin Odegaard is shining on loan at Arsenal. Isco is still on the books. Antonio Blanco is rising through the ranks.

Where is the space for Camavinga?

As we have seen with Luka Jovic, many youngsters like Brahim Diaz, and Odegaard, it is very difficult to find a place in the Real Madrid first team.

There are so many players who had to go out on loan, simply because Zinedine Zidane could not find the minutes for them. Several of those players, such as Jovic and Odegaard, are more proven than Camavinga. So how can we expect an 18-year-old to get the minutes he needs in 2021-2022 with Los Merengues?

Eduardo Camavinga is an investment, but Real Madrid do not have the money to make extra investments

The 2020-2021 season has reenforced the idea that Camavinga could still use more experience. Per WhoScored.com, he has 2.8 tackles per game, 1.1 dribbles completed per game, and 1.6 fouls drawn per game. But he only has two total goal contributions and his defensive numbers have dropped, whereas he’s not shown significant improvements offensively.

Camavinga could be signed at a discount rate compared to last summer, and Real Madrid could see him as an investment. But with glaring needs in the attack, an incredibly stacked midfield, and a logjam of young talent on loan, is it wise to make an investment on Camavinga this summer during the economic crisis that continues due to COVID-19?

I think not, even as I have consistently sung Camavinga’s praises and once saw him as an important midfield signing to Los Blancos.

Real Madrid could use a defensive midfielder next season as a backup to Casemiro, but Camavinga probably isn’t the answer. He’s not a true defensive midfielder, and he’s both too good and too in need of minutes to be a backup to a weekly starter like Case.

There may be a desire on Camavinga’s part to leave, but it is better for him to stay with Rennes or at least go somewhere he can play consistently. We have seen how moving too early can impact a young player negatively. Look no further than Mickael Cuisance, who bolted from Gladbach for Bayern and is now realizing that staying at Marseille is best for his career.

Real, as we saw with Donny van de Beek, have tried to avoid putting players in this kind of position, even if they messed up with Jovic and Odegaard. So I doubt they will make a mistake with Camavinga. All sides should be patient, even if that is hard for a young talent like Camavinga to hear.