Real Madrid center midfielder Eduardo Camavinga has come under fire from the fans for not taking that next step towards stardom. Although he is still only 23 years old and a good footballer, Camavinga has not been able to ascend to a level of being truly world class.
Those flaws have been highlighted more and more lately. The losses of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric these last two summers have exposed holes in the midfield in terms of progression, creation, and control of games, as well as proper screening for the defense off the ball. And Camavinga has been one of the big culprits.
Although Cama has no interest in leaving the Merengues right now, transfer rumors have swirled with interest from the Premire League. A sale is not imminent, but Real Madrid seem to be more open to selling Camavinga due to his lack of progress.
Alvaro Arbeloa weaves Eduardo Camavinga criticism
After his poor performance against Mallorca in a loss in which he cost the team a goal and did poorly off the ball, the Frenchman is now at a critical juncture in his career at the club in which he must show real improvement.
And ahead of the Girona game in La Liga, Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa cushioned his praise for Eduardo Camavinga on the ball and his athleticism with just a hint of criticism at not understanding the other important responsibilities of being a top midfielder. The Spanish coach said, via Madrid Xtra, “Camavinga has a privileged physique, ball handling. He has great conditions. I'm happy with his performance. I want him to get better, to understand that we ask him inside the pitch. He will continue to be important in the future.”
Whenever Arbeloa talks about a player, you always have to read between the lines. He is always so kind and full of praise for his players, as he thrives in that "good cop" role. But in his diplomacy, either his ommissions or his little sprinkles of constructive criticism are good indicators of what a player needs to improve on and how much they need to improve.
Arbeloa is basically saying that while Camavinga has blessed physical tools, the former Rennes star still needs to improve. While he was optimistic that Eduardo Camavinga will do so, Alvaro Arbeloa subtly hints at the problem. Camavinga has great qualities, but to really reach that next level, he needs to improve in his work off the ball and his tactical understanding.