Camavinga determined to fight for Real Madrid future as Mourinho weighs up options

Eduardo Camavinga is refusing to give up on his Real Madrid career and is set on convincing new coach Jose Mourinho he deserves a place in the squad, despite being viewed internally as expendable at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 23-year-old France international, who is under contract with Real Madrid until 2029, is not part of the club’s sporting plans for the coming season, according to Spanish reports. The hierarchy are understood to be open to selling the midfielder this summer, with an asking price of around €50m.

Yet Camavinga is determined to change minds. As reported by Spanish newspaper Marca on Thursday, he has returned to pre-season training fully committed and in peak condition after a short break and a four-day intensive programme at Harvard Business School on its Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports (BEMS) course.

World Cup blow after difficult club season

The former Rennes player had imagined a very different scenario for the summer of 2026. In his own plans, he saw himself lifting the World Cup with France. Instead, while “Les Bleus” progressed to the semi-finals of the tournament, he watched from afar.

Didier Deschamps did not include him in the squad announced on 14 May, a particularly painful snub given that the France coach had frequently backed him in the past. That omission capped what has been a very challenging season at Real Madrid, during which Camavinga struggled with injuries and faced repeated criticism of his performances.

Those difficulties have fuelled speculation in the Spanish media that Real Madrid are keen to offload him and refresh their midfield options under Mourinho.

Mourinho yet to be convinced

Camavinga is fully aware of the precariousness of his situation and understands how much is at stake over the coming weeks. He knows pre-season will be crucial in shaping Mourinho’s opinion before the Portuguese makes a final decision on his role.

Mourinho is said to want another central midfielder brought in, but Manchester City’s Rodri is not considered a realistic or suitable target for the club’s current needs. Camavinga, meanwhile, is not a priority for the coach at this stage, although Mourinho is prepared to give him an opportunity to prove he can meet his demands.

According to Marca, the Real Madrid manager intends to assess Camavinga closely in the short term, starting with Friday’s friendly against Alcorcon. The Frenchman is eager to seize that chance and showcase what he can offer “on and off the pitch” in an attempt to alter Mourinho’s assessment.

Ignoring Premier League interest

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his place at Real Madrid, Camavinga has no intention of pushing for a move. The report states that he does not want to leave the Bernabeu and has been turning a deaf ear to approaches from other major clubs.

Manchester City and Manchester United are both said to be interested in signing him, but Camavinga is reportedly rejecting every proposal presented to his camp, focusing instead on winning over Mourinho and the Real Madrid hierarchy.

For now, his future hinges on whether he can capitalise on the limited window he has been given in pre-season – with the friendly against Alcorcon viewed as an early and potentially significant audition in front of his new coach.