Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfielder reports early ahead of pre-season aiming to win over
Eduardo Camavinga’s future remains one of the biggest unanswered questions at Real Madrid this summer.
At 23 years old, the French midfielder finds himself at a pivotal moment after a season that fell well short of the club’s and fans’ expectations.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Camavinga appears determined to fight for his place and has already sent an early message to Jose Mourinho and his new coaching staff.
Early arrival at Valdebebas
According to journalist Alvaro Esteban (h/t SPORT), Camavinga was present at Valdebebas on the morning of Friday, July 10, coinciding with Mourinho’s first working day alongside his new coaching staff.
Although the first-team squad is not scheduled to officially return until Monday, July 13, the Portuguese tactician and his assistants have already begun preparations for the new season at Real Madrid’s training complex.
Camavinga chose to report early and make an appearance at the club’s facilities, a gesture that did not go unnoticed.
A difficult season behind him
The French international arrives after one of the toughest campaigns of his career. Injuries disrupted much of his season, while inconsistent performances prevented him from establishing himself as a regular starter.
His disappointing form also resulted in his omission from France’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.
One of the defining moments of his campaign came in the UEFA Champions League against Bayern Munich, where his red card proved costly and played a significant role in Real Madrid’s eventual elimination.
Interest from Europe’s elite
Although Camavinga remains under contract until 2029, Real Madrid continue to evaluate his situation carefully.
Within the club, there is a feeling that the midfielder has not developed as expected since arriving from Rennes in a deal worth €31 million plus add-ons.
As a result, Los Blancos would be open to considering a sale should a sufficiently attractive offer arrive.
Several top European clubs, including PSG, Manchester City, and Liverpool, have monitored his situation closely in recent months.
Mourinho to make the final call
Ultimately, the decision over Camavinga’s future will rest with Mourinho. The Portuguese manager wants to assess the midfielder personally during an unusual pre-season that will initially be missing several international players.
Mourinho believes there is still significant untapped potential in Camavinga. He sees a player blessed with exceptional physical and technical qualities but one who has lacked continuity and clear direction during recent seasons.
The new coach wants to determine whether he can help unlock that potential before any final decision is made.
Against that backdrop, Camavinga’s early appearance at Valdebebas carries added significance.
The Frenchman understands that the coming weeks could define his future at Real Madrid and is determined to convince Mourinho that he deserves an important role in the new project.
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.
