Real Madrid target Camavinga: "I love a sliding tackle"
The Rennes player and Real Madrid target gave an interview with Ouest France in which he discussed his various roles on the pitch.
Eduardo Camavinga gave his first interview as a professional footballer to French daily Ouest France during which the Real Madrid target discussed his style of play and his life off the pitch.
Real Madrid have been actively keeping tabs on the 17-year-old and are reportedly preparing a bid in the region of €50m for the midfielder, but his coach Julien Stéphan has claimed that Camavinga wishes to remain at Rennes for the time being.
"What I value most is work ethic," Camavinga said. "I like to do the running for my teammates. If I don't work hard on the pitch, my mum woudl drag me off it by me ears. And my dad too. Everything they have they have earned by working hard. Even in the toughest moments, they have sweated to make sure we didn't want for anything. So I see it as logical that now it's my turn. Now I work hard. In any case, without hard work, I wouldn't have made it this far."
Camavinga: "Before this season I had never played as a number six"
The Rennes midfielder also explained how his mother had influenced his style of play: "My mum always tells me not to have any fear on the pitch, and if I do I'm not going to have a good time of it when I get home [laughs]. And my dad tells me not to forget to thank God every day, we owe everything to him. We're a very religious family. Lifting up my family isn't just a material thing. Right now my parents are happy with what they've got but I can make them happier. I was taught that happiness isn't just about material things. It's a bit of everything, a global balance."
On his position on the pitch and where he likes to play, the predominantly defensive midfielder explained that he can operate pretty much anywhere in the centre of the park, which will not put off any potential suitors this summer. "Before this season I had never played as a number six but I've learned to appreciate the position. I like to play as a number eight as well, as a box-to-box midfielder, to have space. I also love a sliding tackle. I don't know where it came from, there was a time when I didn't like defending, but now I love going in on the feet of an opponent to win the ball. I prefer that to interceptions. It's much more fun to watch. I love sliding tackles, it's instinctive."