Real Madrid News
Real Madrid prodigy in talks over renewal, Perez wants to use him in a specific position
Eduardo Camavinga’s rise to prominence at Real Madrid has been the breaking story of Los Blancos’ 2022-23 campaign. Not only is the youngster the team’s most improved player but grabs that title by some distance.
According to reports from Mario Cortegana, Camavinga is in talks to renew his contract with Real Madrid. The journalist further adds that Florentino Perez is unhappy with the way the youngster is being used and wishes to see him more in midfield than as a left-back.
One falls short for words in praise of the French protege this season, not only for his sheer tenacity on the field but the flair he brings with him. His ability to carry the ball forward is an elite skillset and his versatility makes him the complete package.
Camavinga’s inspiring displays in the middle of the park have seen him overtake Aurelien Tchouameni in the pecking order. In an ideal world, he would be an undisputed starter in the Merengues‘ midfield. Ferland Mendy’s repeated injuries, however, complicate his situation.
The 20-year-old’s ability to cover the left-back position solidly has him bound to the defensive role, but that cannot continue to be the case next season. Unsurprisingly, the left-back department is one of Los Blancos’ priorities for June.
Camavinga already has a contract with Real Madrid that runs until the summer of 2027. The club wish to add more years to his deal, improve his salary, and release clause amount to fend off any potential interest that could sprout from top European clubs.
The youngster possesses an unreal zeal to succeed in the Spanish capital and recently came out in an interview to talk about his growth as a player. A brief glance at Camavinga’s mature and drive-filled answers in itself shows why Real Madrid cannot let him go.
“I have an app to see how many times and where I touched the ball during the game. I always self-criticise and try to improve. If they say I had a good game but I think I did not, then I consider it a bad match,” he said as part of the same interaction.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
