Eduardo Camavinga is one of the footballers most questioned by Real Madrid this season. After four years at the club, he is playing probably his worst season in white. After several seasons of development and improvement, his performance this year has taken an unexpected downturn that has put him facing the exit door. However, performances like those against Atlético Madrid have given him the option of staying in the team.
Camavinga, a year of disappointment
The French footballer has been plagued by injuries and poor performances throughout the year. Some decisions he has made on the pitch have resulted in points lost to Real Madrid, even titles, such as the unjustifiable penalty he gave against Gavi in the Super Cup against Barcelona which was the start of the Blaugrana comeback.
Against Celta de Vigo, in the Copa del Rey, he gifted the opposition an incomprehensible ball on the edge of the area that resulted in the equalizer, taking the match to extra time. And against Osasuna he conceded a penalty for a stamp on him for being late and not knowing how to measure up, in a move where the Navarrese striker had already shot wide of the goalposts, but the force with which he stamped on him could not avoid the maximum penalty. Madrid lost two points that could cost them dearly at the end of the season.
But apart from specific mistakes, Real Madrid are tired of a player who always goes to the limit, with a lot of impetus, and who takes too many risks, provoking set pieces in the vicinity of the area, or receiving cards that endanger his participation in matches and the option of leaving his team with one less player on the field.
The best Camavinga reappears against Atlético
Camavinga’s last few performances led to the French player being benched against Atlético Madrid. One only has to look at the first leg, where Ancelotti gave him the nod and had to substitute him on the hour mark due to the poor performance he was offering.
In the second leg it was his turn to provide play and energy in the midfield from the bench, and his performance was superb. He defended like he hadn’t been seen in a long time, he got in the way, he stole the ball and he was one hundred percent focused and committed. In attack he made the right decisions, playing when he should, dribbling when it was time, and slowing down the game when necessary
Camavinga played his best game of the season, especially given what was at stake, given the importance of the match, and he made it clear that the footballing quality in his boots is still there, it’s just that, for some reason, it hasn’t quite appeared this year.
Decision about his future
The Santiago Bernabéu management would not look unfavourably on the footballer leaving if a good offer comes in after the season he has had. Of course, if he manages to get back to his best and plays the rest of the season with the quality and forcefulness he showed last night, it is unlikely that Real Madrid will choose to sell the player. The sporting management does not doubt his quality or his progress, but they do doubt that he is a player prepared for the demands of a club like Real Madrid, which waits for no one. If he manages to convince with play and hard work, there is no doubt that he will be able to turn things around.
We will see what Camavinga’s role is during the season and if he is capable of turning the current situation around. With matches like last night’s, he will hardly be in doubt, but he will have to keep up the good work if he wants to continue at Real Madrid next season.