The Eduardo Camavinga affair is shaking up all of Europe. At just 21 years old, the young French midfielder, who was supposed to be the natural heir to Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos at Real Madrid, is perhaps going through the most delicate moment of his career. Surprisingly sidelined by Xabi Alonso, the new coach of the Merengues, Camavinga is no longer untouchable. And Paris Saint-Germain intends to take advantage of this void to make a splash in the transfer market.
According to sources close to the Madrid dressing room, Camavinga was deeply disappointed by the way his case was handled. Relegated to the bench for the last two La Liga matches, he felt “humiliated” and betrayed by a coach who had promised to give him a key role in his sporting project. In Paris, PSG officials immediately sensed the opportunity. Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, determined to make a big splash after the controversies surrounding Donnarumma and the dressing room management, reportedly gave the green light to prepare a shock offer.
Paris’s initial approach reportedly revolved around €30 million . But Florentino Pérez’s reaction has chilled everyone: the Madrid president is reportedly demanding an “astronomical” sum, well over €100 million, to let Camavinga leave. This strategy would have a dual objective: to protect the club’s finances but above all to send a clear message to PSG, which has been trying to attract the best French talent for years.
Perhaps the most intriguing thing about this affair is Camavinga’s own reaction. According to some Spanish journalists, the player has confided to those close to him that he feels “trapped” at Real Madrid, blocked by an exaggerated transfer price that prevents him from choosing his future. There are even rumors circulating that the player may be seeking a showdown with his management, a situation reminiscent of the tensions experienced by Mbappé during his final seasons in Paris.
In Paris, Luis Enrique is reportedly following the situation very closely. The Spanish coach sees Camavinga as the perfect fit to stabilize his midfield and support Warren Zaire-Emery in an explosive rotation. “He’s a player capable of covering the entire field, both destructive and creative,” a source close to the Parisian coaching staff reportedly confided. The Zaire-Emery-Camavinga duo could represent the future of the French national team… and PSG.
But a transfer of this magnitude is never easy. At Real Madrid, some in the dressing room are making no secret of their discomfort with the handling of the affair. Luka Modrić, nearing the end of his career, is said to have personally asked the club not to sacrifice Camavinga, whom he considers his natural successor. For his part, the now-retired Toni Kroos is said to have expressed his incomprehension at Alonso’s attitude.
The Camavinga affair is therefore taking on the appearance of a time bomb. Between a frustrated player, an inflexible Real Madrid, and a PSG ready to do anything to strengthen its project, all the ingredients are there for an explosive saga. What if history were to repeat itself? After losing Kylian Mbappé this summer, PSG could well “steal” one of Real’s most precious jewels.
This scenario, unimaginable just a few months ago, now seems more plausible than ever. One thing is certain: the Eduardo Camavinga case is likely to generate a lot of buzz and redefine the balance of power in Europe.
