Eduardo Camavinga, Real Madrid player
Eduardo Camavinga, Real Madrid player
Eduardo Camavinga has emerged as one of the biggest winners of France’s latest international break, with Zinedine Zidane and his coaching staff particularly impressed by the Real Madrid midfielder’s performances.
According to RMC Sport, Camavinga has strengthened his position with the national team after starting both matches against Belgium.
His displays have given Zidane another reason to consider him seriously for a midfield role, including potentially as the holding midfielder the France coach is looking for.
For Camavinga, however, the challenge now moves back to Madrid, where he needs to carry the same level of performance into club football if he wants to turn a promising international spell into a permanent role under Jose Mourinho.
Camavinga impresses Zidane with France performances
Camavinga entered the international break with plenty to prove after missing out on France’s World Cup squad during the summer, and also seeing his prominence under Mourinho dipping.
He had prepared specifically to make an impression this season, and his work appears to be producing results.
View this post on Instagram
Against Belgium, the Real Madrid midfielder showed the combination of energy, technical quality and defensive awareness that has long made him such an intriguing option in midfield.
His distribution was particularly impressive, with Camavinga repeatedly finding teammates with accurate long passes while remaining heavily involved without the ball.
His defensive work was just as important, as the midfielder was regularly involved in winning possession through well-timed challenges, allowing France to regain control without resorting to unnecessary fouls.
Camavinga could have a new role for France
Camavinga’s defensive contribution was explained by his numbers in the second meeting with Belgium, where he recovered seven balls, two more than he had managed in the first game.
Those performances have clearly strengthened his standing with Zidane and the France coaching staff.
The former Real Madrid midfielder and manager is understood to appreciate Camavinga’s qualities and sees a possible route for him into a more defined role.
Eduardo Camavinga, Real Madrid player
Eduardo Camavinga impressed Zinedine Zidane while on national team duty. (Picture credit: Instagram/@camavinga)
A position at the base of midfield could be an option. Camavinga has the physical ability to cover ground, the technical quality to progress possession and the defensive instincts required to operate in front of the back four.
Camavinga must translate France form to Real Madrid
The international break has given Camavinga momentum, but his next challenge is arguably more important.
Real Madrid have plenty of competition in midfield, meaning strong performances for France will only take him so far.
He must now remain available, avoid another spell on the sidelines and reproduce this level of consistency under club pressure.
If he can do that, Camavinga could turn himself from an exciting midfield option into a genuine contender for a more prominent role at both Real Madrid and France.
Mourinho’s message to Real Madrid superstar after international break controversy: ‘Outside I will defend you, here…’
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Jose Mourinho has always been an excellent man-manager, and a personality like his is needed to manage a dressing room like Real Madrid’s.
He has now held a direct conversation with Kylian Mbappe following the recent controversy surrounding the Los Blancos talisman.
According to journalist Pipi Estrada on El Chiringuito TV, Mourinho spoke with Mbappe during breakfast on Tuesday.
The conversation comes amid increased scrutiny around the forward following questions raised externally.
Mourinho delivers clear message to Mbappe
Estrada claims Mourinho told the forward: “Outside I will defend you, here I won’t.”
It is a short message, but one that fits perfectly with the type of dressing-room management Mourinho has always demanded.
Jose Mourinho, Manager of Real Madrid
Mourinho has always been a master at managing dressing rooms. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Publicly, the Madrid coach is prepared to protect his player from outside criticism. Internally, however, that protection does not mean Mbappe will be spared criticism or accountability.
While there is no confirmation of what prompted Mourinho to deliver such a message, it could not have been clearer for Mbappe.
Mbappe controversy has grown
Mbappe has been at the centre of considerable discussion in recent days.
There have been claims questioning his commitment and priorities, while Josep Pedrerol recently suggested that the Frenchman was “losing the affection of Madridismo.”
However, Los Blancos’ position is said to be different. There is said to be no unhappiness with Mbappe either at club level or inside the dressing room.
His absence from Valdebebas and his travel to Paris were also said to have been authorised, with the club in the loop.
A relationship worth watching
The more interesting question now is what Mourinho can get out of Mbappe over the coming months.
Mbappe has already reached extraordinary individual levels, but the Portuguese tactician has never been a coach interested only in numbers.
Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid
Mbappe will have to pull his socks up under Mourinho. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)
He will want the Frenchman influencing matches even when he is not scoring, setting the tone without the ball and becoming a reference point for the rest of the team.
Mourinho has previously shown that he is willing to challenge superstar players rather than simply accommodate them.
Mbappe, meanwhile, is at a stage of his career where individual brilliance alone will not define his legacy at the Bernabeu. He desperately needs trophies to support those numbers.
If Mourinho’s demands push Mbappe towards another level of leadership and responsibility, this uncomfortable spell could prove beneficial in the longer run.
The real test will arrive once Madrid start playing difficult matches, and it remains to be seen how Mbappe fares in those games under Mourinho.