Eduardo Camavinga, a supertalent from the refugee camp. What will he bring to Real Madrid and what will his position be?

Looking at Eduardo Camavinga, you might think he has a dream life. He signed for Real Madrid at the age of 18, he’s been a mainstay of the French U21 national team, and he’s even played for the U21s. But his life story is very unenviable.

Camavinga was born in 2002 in a refugee camp in Angola, where his parents ended up after fleeing the war in Congo. The whole family subsequently moved to Lille, France, but the problems didn’t end there.

In 2013, when Camaving was only 11 and impressing Rennes scouts, the Camaving family home in Fougères completely burned down. The family lost all their personal belongings, along with official documents, which subsequently caused complications when Eduardo applied for French citizenship.

“It is clear that fleeing the war made me stronger. But mainly my family helped me, so whenever I play, I play for them. That has made me a stronger person,” Camavinga said at the official presentation in the bowels of Real Madrid.

“Your parents, Celestino and Sofía, and your brothers and sisters know very well what sacrifice and fighting against adversity means. From your parents and your family, you have learned principles that will always accompany you and help you overcome even the greatest difficulties you will face,” Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez told the youngster.

Now let’s move on to the football side. Camavinga started playing for Rennes at the age of 16 and immediately captivated fans and pundits alike. At 17, he made his debut for the French national team and immediately scored, becoming the second youngest scorer for Les Bleus, only Maurice Gastiger was younger in 1914.

Camaving’s incredible talent did not escape the world’s big clubs. the 18-year-old Frenchman had his pick. Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern, Manchester City. But the young footballer acted on his heart.

“It’s not about money, I fulfilled my childhood dream of signing for Real Madrid. I didn’t think twice about which offer to accept and I’m happy to be here. There were other clubs interested, but I only wanted to join Real Madrid,” the young footballer said at his first press conference in Madrid.

He can really bring a lot of positives to Carlo Ancelotti’s team. While Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are long-standing stalwarts and have the game firmly under control, Camavinga, on the other hand, is an incredibly agile player who runs all over the pitch and can surprise opponents in a different way.

He might get his chance immediately, as Ancelotti will have to plug the hole left by the injured Kroos and Modric. He will certainly have his place in the squad, although he may not be a regular in the starting line-up in his first season.

But the 18-year-old midfielder is a force to be reckoned with at the Santiago Bernabéu and should be a star for years to come. So after a difficult start to life, Camavinga is being rewarded for his hard work and will that has taken him to the club’s top.

Source: Real Madrid, Marca