Eduardo Camavinga has revealed that Real Madrid do not need to sign a midfielder who is planning to join the club this summer. Perhaps more than any other position in the Real Madrid team, the successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the team has been the most discussed.
A rotating cast of Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde have been used in midfield over the past two seasons, but since Kroos’ retirement, none of these combinations have been convincing. The midfielder who knows how to combine play is reported to be a priority for Los Blancos in the summer, and before their match against Benfica in the Champions League, Camavinga was asked if he agrees that they miss that player.
“What do you think? (Silence) First, I want to know what you think, then I’ll give you a straight answer (“I think Real Madrid needs it”). Well, I don’t think so (laughs). We have players with those qualities. There are many good players on the field, and that’s not what we’re focusing on right now. But if you think we’ll need it, I’ll see the president…’
Camavinga is confident that he can outrun the Real Madrid midfielder
Specifically, Camavinga confirmed that he could be in that role.
“I can do that, I can do it. I know what I can do and now, I can do it even better. Yes, I can be that ‘organizer’.”
“I think I can do a lot. I notice it and I know it. The fans of Real Madrid have not seen Camavinga fully. Because I can give a lot. As I always say, I like to play as a defensive midfielder. I may lack consistency and I need to focus more on the pitch, because I make mistakes sometimes, I know what I’m saying.”
Camavinga is usually used at left back or on the left side of a midfield four.
“I have a good relationship with Carreras, so it’s easy on the pitch. And I love playing there. Although at the moment the important thing is to play. I’m not used to being on the sidelines, but like a defender, if I have to do it for the team, I’ll do it. I’m not used to it, but it’s going well.”
Camavinga visited Arbeloa’s ‘grey sofa’
One of the themes of the last few days at Real Madrid was manager Alvaro Arbeloa explaining that he invites the players to come and talk to him privately on the gray sofa in his office. Camavinga confirmed that he had always sat in this seat.
“Oh, yes, yes! I’ve been many times! With Xabi and Arbeloa. It’s like when you go to your manager’s office. He’s a coach who likes to talk to the players, while Xabi prefers to let his performance on the pitch do the talking… though now… with Arbeloa it’s the same.”
What has changed since the first meeting?
Regarding their second encounter with Benfica at the Estadio da Luz, Camavinga revealed that his team is playing differently.
“The mentality. We are better at that now. We have to attack and defend together. We want to play a very good game, because that was difficult for our fans. We want to win with a feeling of revenge.”
Arbeloa initially used Franco Mastantuono on the right of a four-man midfield, but that role was given to Guler late on. Their last two matches have seen the Turkish talent deployed alongside Camavinga, Tchouameni and Valverde in midfield.
