June 28, 2024
Real Madrid sealed a record 15th UCL crown at the start of June, with all the plaudits going to the likes of Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, and the soon-to-retire Toni Kroos. One name, however, went slightly under the radar: Eduardo Camavinga. Camavinga put on a fine defensive display at Wembley and was also instrumental to the club’s La Liga and Champions League double in the just-concluded season.
Los Blancos have in recent times changed tact when it comes to their transfer strategy, signing the best young talent from across Europe and the world at large. Camavinga falls nicely into this category, and with Kylian Mbappe joining for the upcoming season, they will be looking to defend both crowns.
Most UEFA Champions League titles:
Real Madrid: 15
Milan: 7
Liverpool: 6
Bayern Munich: 6
Barcelona: 5
Ajax: 4
Manchester United: 3
Inter: 3
Today, we’re taking a look at the heroes behind Real Madrid’s Champions League + league double 🏆👑🤍🧵 pic.twitter.com/ROuTarORXQ
— Breaking The Lines (@BTLvid) June 1, 2024
Camavinga himself has come a long way from the war-torn Angolan enclave of Cabinda, where he spent his infant years before his family migrated to France when he turned two years old. The young Frenchman has gone from strength to strength since signing as a promising 18-year-old from Stade Rennais in 2021.
He may have been used sparingly in his debut season, which also brought with it a league and European double, but he has now seemingly become a key cog at the heart of the Madrid midfield, thanks to the injury-induced absence of compatriot Aurelien Tchouameni.
Camavinga’s stats speak for themselves, as the Frenchman proved to be one of the most progressive passers in La Liga in 2023/2024. Looking into the passing aspect of his game, Camavinga passed the ball roughly 63.88 times on average per game, with a pass completion rate of 91.34%. He also played 0.99 key passes per game, which led to significant scoring chances.
The dynamic midfielder may not have racked up too many assists (just two in total), but he provided several key passes in the build-up to goals. Overall, Camavinga’s xA (expected assists) output was 0.24 per 90, which put him in the 88th percentile in La Liga.
France’s 25-man Euros squad:
Areola: https://t.co/eELWuVe1bh
Clauss: https://t.co/j0zthGv45W
Konaté: https://t.co/JUOAHcZgMK
Zaïre-Emery: https://t.co/0wX39k1Roi
Fofana: https://t.co/TqvF1kVeQL
Griezmann: https://t.co/gnEdqsT8Wl
Kolo Muani: https://t.co/eApnGApFmp pic.twitter.com/SNWroqFyGd
— Breaking The Lines (@BTLvid) May 16, 2024
He was as adept in his passing as he was with his defending, with 3.70 successful tackles per 90, 1.28 interceptions per 90, and 9.63 successful ground duels per 90, putting him in the 98th, 85th, and 92nd percentiles, respectively, amongst other midfielders in La Liga in 2023/24.
A comparison of the data below between the French midfielder and England midfielder Declan Rice, who himself had a standout debut season at Arsenal, shows that Camavinga edged it with key passes, forward pass percentage, progressive carries, and overall defensive actions despite playing 1616 minutes less than Rice.
Camavinga has returned in fine form after a period out with knee ligament issues and will now be looking to conquer the international stage after his Champions League successes, with Euro 2024 on the horizon. N’Golo Kante knows all too well about claiming national team honors after winning the 2018 World Cup, but his place at the base of the French midfield may be under serious threat thanks to Camavinga’s performances in the past two seasons.
Didier Deschamps has put his faith in youthful vigor in midfield recently, and that is expected to continue with Camavinga likely to pair Tchouameni or Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana in a 2-man midfield. His versatility could also see him feature at left wing back, a position he has already featured in at club level.
All eyes may be on Kylian Mbappe for the upcoming tournament and the new La Liga season, but you can bet your money on Eduardo Camavinga putting in another set of stellar performances in the middle of the park.
By: Edward Okaro / @KingArinze
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Getty Images