Rennes are determined to keep hold of Tottenham and Liverpool target Eduardo Camavinga with sporting director Florian Maurice telling RMC that even offers of £70 million will be rejected this summer.
At the age of just 17, this teen sensation is already one of the most influential midfielders in French football.
Camavinga exploded onto the scene with a Man of the Match performance in a 2-1 triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in August and, in case you were wondering whether this was a classic case of the Federico Machedas, the Rennes talisman has proven again and again that he is, in fact, the real deal.
According to Sport in March, Premier League giants Spurs and Liverpool are keeping tabs while Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is convinced that Camavinga is the second coming of Claude Makelele (Marca).
But after qualifying for the Champions League for the very first time with a third-place finish in Ligue 1, Rennes have no plans to sell – even if a mega-money offer arrives.
“If Real Madrid offer £70 million for him, as is being talked about, the answer is no. We want him to stay so that he keeps developing at Rennes,” says Maurice, echoing claims from Rennes coach Julian Stephan.
“For me it is clear, this player must be part of the project for the coming season. We want to continue with this player. It is important for him that he continues with Stade Rennais. He’s a very good boy, a great player.
“We have no intention of letting him go.
“It is worth pointing out that the player has the ambition and maybe the desire to go elsewhere. I would listen to him, but at the moment he has a Rennes contract.”
Camavinga won’t even turn 18 till August so the most exciting Ligue 1 talent since a teenage Kylian Mbappe has plenty of time on his side.
And there are plenty of players littered throughout history who paid the price after moving too soon. Renato Sanches anyone?
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