Real Madrid evaluates sale of Camavinga to restructure team

Eduardo Camavinga is a question mark at Real Madrid, after being left out of the World Cup and losing José Mourinho's trust. The French midfielder, signed in 2021 for around €355 million, has a contract until 2029, but his performance has been below expectations. Recurring injuries – two muscle sprains in the last six months and an ankle injury that took him out of three consecutive matches – prevented him from showing the quality that earned him the title of revelation in Ligue 1.

In the current season, Camavinga accumulated just 12 minutes of play in 10 matches, with a pass completion rate of 71% and no goals or assists, numbers that contrast with the average of 70 minutes per match he had in his first two seasons at the club. Real Madrid's board, pressured by a deficit of €150 million in the 2024-25 balance sheet, sees the sale of Camavinga as an opportunity to free up salary space and finance strategic signings for the next cycle. The summer transfer window, which opens on July 1, will be the decisive moment: clubs such as Bayern Munich and Manchester United have shown interest, but the asking price is still around €200 million, well below the original value.

Meanwhile, Mourinho has prioritized players like Jude Bellingham and Luka Modrić, leaving Camavinga out of the tactical plan and further reducing his visibility to the coach. Camavinga's situation reflects a recurring pattern in modern football: high investments in young promises do not always translate into immediate returns, especially when adapting to the rhythm of the European elite requires time and consistency. The French midfielder's case is similar to that of other athletes who, after leaving less competitive leagues, face difficulties in establishing themselves in top teams.

The pressure for short-term results, coupled with internal competition for minutes, creates a hostile environment for players who do not deliver stable performances. Furthermore, Real Madrid's stance of prioritizing the sale of athletes with long contracts and high salaries signals a change in the squad management strategy. The club, which historically sought to keep its main players, now chooses to rebalance its finances even if this means giving up talents that still have potential.

This approach reflects the need to adapt to an increasingly restrictive economic scenario, where financial sustainability has become as important as immediate sporting success. The trend of selling high-salary assets is in line with the financial adjustment policy adopted by clubs such as Barcelona and Manchester City, which have also reduced salary liabilities in the last two years. Real Madrid, which still carries a deficit of €150 million, sees the release of Camavinga's €200 million as a way of complying with Fair Play and still maintaining room for reinforcements in attack.

The operation also makes it possible to renegotiate the exit clauses of other players, such as Luka Modrić, whose contract is also close to ending. On the field, Camavinga's departure could accelerate the tactical transition that Mourinho has been rehearsing. Without the 21-year-old midfielder, the coach has more freedom to use Bellingham as a central reference point, while Modrić and Eduardo Camavingão take on more advanced roles.

The lack of a holding midfielder also opens up space for academy players, such as young Álvaro Rodríguez, 19, who has been trained to fill the defensive void. "We can no longer keep an athlete who doesn't deliver on the field and still occupies one of the highest salaries in the squad," said Real Madrid's sporting director, in an interview with the Spanish press. " What's next: The final decision must be made before the transfer window closes on August 31st.

If the club finds a buyer, Camavinga could land at one of the European giants and restart his career, while Real Madrid will use the freed-up capital to reinforce deficit areas, such as attack and defense, preparing the team for next season's Champions League campaign. Read at Trivela