When asked about a potential move to Real Madrid in 2021, arguably the most exciting young midfielder in European football made no attempt to pour cold water on the raging fires of speculation
“The great clubs make me dream,” Eduardo Camavinga admitted, via AS.
Just two weeks later, the Rennes wonder-kid has joined forces with a man who boasts plenty of influence at the Santiago Bernabeu. Coincidence? We’ll let you decide that one.
Camavinga’s new agent, Jonathan Barnett, played a vital role in Gareth Bale’s world-record move to Real Madrid seven years ago while many of Los Blancos’ academy starlets are also represented by his Stellar Agency group.
With Real crying out for a dominant midfielder capable of providing energy, industry and a box-to-box presence, Real will be more confident than ever of winning the Europe-wide race for a teenager Zinedine Zidane himself thinks could become a Claude Makelele-like figure for the modern generation (Marca).
Yet it is not just the 13-time European champions who will have taken note of Barnett’s blossoming relationship with Camavinga.
Tottenham have a fine relationship with Bale’s long-time adviser and, according to Sport, the youngest player to make his France debut since 1914 is on their radar too.
Rennes director Florian Maurice told RMC in June that even offers of £70 million would be batted away without a second thought. But, with Camavinga yet to extend a contract that expires in 2021, a team who finished third in Ligue 1 thanks to the totemic performances of their teenage talisman might have no choice but to cash in sooner rather than later.
He may be just 18 but Camavinga plays the game with such an assured, confident swagger that you’d be forgiven for assuming he was closer to 30 than 20. Blessed with the energy of Moussa Sissoko, the strength of Pierre Emile Hojbjerg and the defence-splitting potential of Tanguy Ndombele, it is hard to think of a midfielder better suited to life under Jose Mourinho.
Paul Pogba, meanwhile, sees shades of himself in Camavinga.
“It is a pleasure to see him don the (French) shirt,” the World Cup winner said after the Rennes star marked his international bow with an overhead kick goal in France’s 7-1 thrashing of Ukraine.
“I was truly happy for him. I only wish him the best and much more. He makes me think a bit about me. He is not a timid person. It is good, because he is confident.
“He has confidence in his qualities. He is a very good youngster, I like him enormously.”
Mourinho will be hoping, of course, that the similarities between Camavinga and Pogba don’t run too deep.
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