Camavinga a step closer to Real Madrid
He has signed up with Jonathan Barnett's ICM-Stellar agency and that is positive news for Real Madrid. The agent knows that it is the best place for his new client.
Eduardo Camavinga's recent movements place him a little closer to Real Madrid. The 18-year-old French midfielder has changed agent, leaving Moussa Sissoko to sign up with Jonathan Barnett's ICM Stellar agency - just as AS revealed last week. Barnett personally confirmed the news to Diario AS and explained, “We will be working very closely with his family. It's important to him to have the right people around him in a safe setting,”. It was the player's father Celestino initiated the decision to leave Sissoko, who had been the player's agent for several years and who, in a bid to save his commission, made contact with Madrid but too late to stop Camavinga from hiring a new representative.
Spanish players represented by Jonathan Barnett
Despite how it might seem, for Bale's experiences at Real Madrid, (Gareth is also represented by Stellar Group) Camavinga moving to Barnett's company actually puts him a step closer to Los Blancos. Barnett also confirmed to AS that his relationship with Florentino Pérez and José Ángel Sánchez is excellent - in spite of any problems that Bale might have had with Zidane. Furthermore, Stellar Group already has a significant presence at Real Madrid, as it represents some of the most promising players in the club's youth academy such as Hugo Vallejo, Iván Morante, De la Víbora, Marbel and Japanese pearl, Pipi.
Barnett's agency has placed several of the youth players on its book at LaLiga clubs and since the recent fusion with North American giant ICM, it is one of the places which young players are keen to sign for. Based on Barnett's philosophy, the agency offers its clients an integral service - which mean they don't need to worry about anything other than playing football as all other aspects such as finances, domestic affairs, travel planning and holidays, social media, marketing, sponsors…etc. are taken care of.
Vacancy in Madrid's midfield
That was what convinced Camavinga. With all of that in mind, Jonathan Barnett knows that there is no better place for a player than Real Madrid - it's a club which will get player known, allow them to win silverware and better sponsorships deals. On top of that, Barnett is usually fully informed and up to date on clubs' sporting projects, and at Real Madrid, Luka Modric's age (34) means that there will be a vacancy to fill in the not too distant future.
Camavinga had dealings with Real Madrid with his previous agent Moussa Sissokó (who also represents Dembelé). It was scouting chief Juni Calafat who organised that meeting. Camavinga's dream, as AS reported over the summer, is to play for Real Madrid. For now, it remains to be seen whether his signing would tie in with the club's strategic project - which includes signing Kylian Mbappé next summer. Camavinga is under contract until 2022. While he may not be in his best moment, the young midfielder provoked a battle between some of the most powerful representatives in world football (among them, Pini Zahavi, Mendes and Raiola) who tried to sign him. He has caused a similar reaction among Europe's elite clubs. Whoever is about signing him will have to deal with Jonathan Barnett.