Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga has always been touted as the next big thing. Since the moment he became a prominent figure at Rennes, to joining the biggest club in the world at just 19 years of age, he was always considered one of the most important players for the future.
Somehow, five years on, he has still not been able to make that jump everyone knows he can make.
Camavinga, after such a long time being at the club, has seen his peers take up the spots that were being heated up for him. It is predominantly clear that the player still has a ridiculous amount of talent. Everyone sees it on some occasions. However, the only problem is that he is not showing it enough times.
There are so many points where the Frenchman plays like a veteran who has played in multiple Champions League finals - which he has - and in other cases, he looks like a new signing who has not yet settled in at the club. There is usually no in between.
Unfortunately for Real Madrid fans, Eduardo Camavinga is proving the club right
It will not be fair to say that Camavinga has not improved at all since joining the club in 2021, because he has. The things he learned at left-back allow him to play a left-sided role more naturally. He has added versatility to his game.
The one thing he neeeded to work on was consistency on everything, which has just not happened. He could be great at left-back, then mediocre the week after.
He could put in a brilliant shift as part of a double pivot, and then, he could play the way he did against Mallorca - losing his man, heavy touches, out of position.
That is something you expect from a 19-year-old. Even at 23, turning 24, players are still young and can definitely improve, but at a club like Real Madrid, he should have been able to at least become a little bit more consistent.
That could be why Real Madrid may reportedly be open to receiving offers for Camavinga in the summer. Not because he is not good, because he is, and can be.
But, he is just not consistent enough, and has not shown enough improvement in the five years he has been at the club to warrant being a nailed-on starter or a crucial piece of the puzzle who would not be sold at any cost.
If Camavinga is able to reach his potential, there are things he would solve for the club just by being there, but it is tough to see that happening after the number of problems he has had with inconsistencies.