Zinedine Zidane’s decision to call up Eduardo Camavinga as part of his first national team list as the manager of Les Bleus came as a pleasant surprise for the Real Madrid player and club faithful.
After all, the player has not been a regular for the men in white in a long time, and the manager’s decision to include him for the international break was seen as a chance for him to redeem himself.
On international duty, he was handed minutes and importance by the manager and participated in 204 minutes across the four games, including a starting role in the wins against Belgium.
The high did not continue
As reported by MARCA now, Camavinga’s purple patch ended right where it began and has not arrived back in Madrid with the player.
Camavinga had a positive international break. (Picture credit: Instagram/@camavinga)
Despite his minutes of importance and decent performances for France, it has not moved him up Jose Mourinho’s pecking order at Real Madrid one bit. He continues to remain one of the manager’s last preferences in midfield.
Before the international break, he was only a bench player for the club with only two starts in seven games. After the break, his misery has only continued as he has played just 25 minutes over the past three games.
Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham and Bernardo Silva, all have played more minutes than Camavinga who is currently at one of the lowest points in his career.
Time to reconsider?
Camavinga refused to leave last summer. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Having emerged from the international break as one of Real Madrid’s bright sparks, there was much hope that Camavinga’s situation would change under Jose Mourinho.
The fact that even his improved performances have not sufficed to make him a starter only adds weight to the argument that the player must leave the club, for there are not many optimistic signs that matters will change.
At a point in time where Real Madrid are already struggling for creativity in midfield and looking to phase out higher-placed midfield names, the future does look bleak for the Frenchman who has fallen behind his teammates.
He was reluctant to leave the club in June, but matters could change in the winter or the next summer transfer window, especially if Real Madrid indeed push for another new midfield signing.