Although Real Madrid struck out on Kylian Mbappe despite a frenetic chase that ended on deadline day, the club did manage to land another generational talent from France. And they did so at an even better value, securing Eduardo Camavinga for 30 million euros (plus variables) from Rennes.
Camavinga joins Real as a midfield reinforcement for Carlo Ancelotti for the 2021-2022 season following three injuries at the position, as well as Martin Odegaard’s transfer to Arsenal.
There is no doubt that the Camavinga signing represents great value for Real Madrid. Let’s take a look at three specific reasons why he will only be viewed as an even bigger transfer bargain for Los Blancos in the future.
Eduardo Camavinga is already worth much more than this
I can remember a time when Rennes told everyone they would not sell Eduardo Camavinga to Real Madrid or anyone else for less than 80 million euros. In fact, that time wasn’t too long ago. It was only in the last summer transfer window when the Ligue 1 club set a sky-high asking price for the then-17-year-old center midfielder after his breakout 2019-2020 campaign.
One year later, Camavinga, who was on an expiring contract and saw his mentor leave the club before 2020-2021, has made his way to Real Madrid for less than half that amount.
Was Camavinga worth 80 million euros last summer? Probably not. But I’d argue he was worth closer to 80 million than 30 million. Camavinga is the best teenage midfielder there is and is probably the best midfield prospect on the planet. He can easily be worth 80 million euros within a few years.
So Real Madrid signing him for just 30 million euros is incredible. Yes, they are getting him so cheaply because of Ligue 1’s financial issues, the pandemic, and the fact that there is one year left on his contract. But also know this. Camavinga had other suitors. Yet he always had Real Madrid at the absolute top of his list. That’s why Real were able to get the bargain deal and not, say, PSG.
Eduardo Camavinga has a rare, high-upside skill-set
Young players often have inflated price tags because teams are projecting their future value. It’s part of the reason why Ben White and Raphael Varane went for around the same money, though there are obviously other factors at play in why Varane was so much cheaper than expected. Still, age is the biggest factor governing transfers, because teams selling young prospects know that they could be worth a ton to a team in the future.
Camavinga is one of the most high-upside young players there is. He is only 18 years old, but he is already experienced in the Champions League, Ligue 1, the French national team, and the Europa League. As a 16-year-old, Camavinga emerged on Real Madrid’s radar after owning PSG’s midfield in the 2019-2020 season. And he has already scored a goal for the most talented national team on the planet.
The midfielder once had more than four tackles per game in Ligue 1…as a 16/17-year-old. Last season, Camavinga, per WhoScored.com, averaged 2.8 dribbles completed per game, 1.8 key passes per game, and 1.5 fouls drawn per game in the Champions League group stages last season, too. And that was part of what was considered a less impressive season than his 2019-2020 display.
Camavinga is an excellent ball-progressor who can carry the ball up the pitch, and he is also a fantastic ball-winner. His passing and technical quality meet expectations, especially for his age, and they are only going to get better as he obtains more experience. Being at Real Madrid and training with the midfielders there can only help, too.
There are weaknesses to his game, sure, but they are minute and will improve. His strengths are already match-winning, as there are very few better progressors and winners of the ball in Europe’s top five leagues.
Real Madrid signed the best possible midfielder at an affordable price
Houssem Aouar and Eduardo Camavinga were the most readily available top midfielders for Real Madrid to sign this summer. Nicolo Barella and Paul Pogba were among those on the wishlist, but Barella was basically impossible after Inter sold both Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi. Meanwhile, Pogba is only a potential target for Real in 2022 if his contract runs out.
Aurelien Tchouameni was another young Ligue 1 midfielder on the transfer radar, but, at the end of the day, we really have to say Real Madrid signed the best possible midfielder they could have when you combine fit, age, upside, skill-set, and potential. At the price of 30 million euros, how can you beat that?
To compare, Arsenal paid 40 million euros for Martin Odegaard, who was not nearly this good at the same age. Nor was he as valuable to Madrid (apparently), since the club seems to want someone who can offer more defending and ball-carrying qualities in a three-man midfield. Odegaard was a playmaker Real didn’t really seem to want to make space for.
Camavinga is an immediate rotational piece who can meet starting expectations for Real Madrid when there are injuries, as there are right now with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric still out. At worst, he is their fifth-best midfielder. At best, he could even be fourth, in a midfield that includes a three-peat trio of world-class players.
Getting a proven top-five-league player with individual Champions League success at the age of 18 for that fee is extraordinary, especially when you consider that Real Madrid and Rennes both knew there weren’t better options available than him.