Real Madrid News
Real Madrid have a decision to make as star midfielder faces an uncertain future
As Real Madrid gear up for the new season under the leadership of Jose Mourinho, there is a huge question mark over star midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.
The Frenchman endured a season to forget last campaign and wasn’t a part of the France squad for the World Cup. He is also not supposedly a key part of Mourinho’s plans going forward.
This puts in a tricky spot, with Real Madrid more than keen on selling him for the right price.
Camavinga’s situation to get tougher
As reported by journalist Ruben Martin, Camavinga’s situation at Real Madrid is not getting any better and, in fact, could become worse.
The player has no desire to leave Real Madrid and wants to fight for his place in the team next season. But that view is not shared by the club.
What is making things more complicated is Real Madrid’s strict policy when it comes to selling Camavinga.
While Los Blancos are open to the sale of the Frenchman, they are not ready to part ways with the midfielder at any price. The club are looking for a premium for the services of the former Rennes starlet.
Camavinga, for his part, is focused on impressing new coach Mourinho during the pre-season. The same goes for fellow Real Madrid teammates who are facing an uncertain future, including Raul Asencio and Franco Mastantuono.
What’s next for Camavinga?
Real Madrid have not received any concrete offers for Camavinga for now. Manchester United were linked with a move for the Frenchman, but their pursuit has hit a roadblock recently.
A journalist has urged Real Madrid to take on advantage of Newcastle United’s growing midfield needs to sell Camavinga for a figure of around €50-60 million.
The Magpies have recently parted ways with key midfielder Sandro Tonali and are in the lookout for reinforcements in the middle of the park. Camavinga, to that end, could be a smart purchase.
For now, the French international will be looking to make an impression during the pre-season, in a desperate attempt to win over the trust of Mourinho.
Real Madrid’s adventure so far under new coach Jose Mourinho has been far from perfect and this fact shouldn’t be lost even after the team’s brilliant comeback win over AS Roma in midweek.
However, there are areas where Los Blancos have shown a clear improvement under Mourinho, when compared to previous bosses such as Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.
One of those areas has been set plays, with Real Madrid appearing far more potent from set pieces this season.
A clear improvement from last season
As reported by Diario AS, the three goals in Rome, all from Arda Guler corners inside a seven-minute blitz, were the perfect advert for the work being done at Valdebebas.
Those strikes took Real Madrid’s set-piece tally to seven goals in just ten matches this season. Four of them have come in La Liga, one from a corner and three from free kicks, with the trio in Rome completing the haul.
It is a striking figure when set against last season’s return. Under Alonso and Arbeloa, Madrid managed 12 set-piece goals across the entire campaign, all in La Liga, split evenly between six from corners and six from free kicks.
On current trends, this side looks well placed to surpass that number comfortably.
The reason behind Real Madrid’s improvement
Attacking set pieces are led at Valdebebas by Pedro Machado, with the whole coaching staff involved and Mourinho himself giving the final green light on every routine.
Defending them, meanwhile, falls to Sami Khedira, though it is treated as a collective effort. Mourinho’s appreciation of that teamwork was clear when Bellingham headed in a Guler free kick against Espanyol, prompting the manager to leap up and embrace his assistants.
Machado, one of Mourinho’s most trusted lieutenants, has followed him from Fenerbahce to Benfica and now Madrid, part of a backroom team blending experience with young, ambitious talent.
On the pitch, Guler is the undisputed master when available, his left foot the key weapon, with Bernardo Silva, Trent Alexander-Arnold and even Diomande also trusted to initiate attacks.
Such meticulous strategy has helped Real Madrid turn into a potent side from set-pieces this season.
