Camavinga fights for redemption as World Cup hopes slip away

Eduardo Camavinga isn’t throwing in the towel — not even close. He knows the mood around him is heavy with disappointment, and he’s fully aware this has been the toughest season of his career. But instead of sulking, he’s choosing to see what’s still in front of him. Five games remain, plus a full preseason under a new coach. In other words: the die may not be cast.

Despite outside noise and interest from major clubs, he’s clear about what he wants — to stay at Real Madrid, and to earn that right on the field. He wants to be Camavinga again, even as his chances of making the next World Cup squad have taken a serious hit in recent days.

Owning his mistakes

Camavinga’s starting point is blunt self‑criticism. He knows that’s the only way to rebuild. His contract runs through 2029, and he has zero doubts about his future: he wants to stay in Madrid, not leave this summer. And suitors aren’t lacking — PSG and several Premier League clubs have been circling. The question is whether any offer would be big enough for Real Madrid to even consider. But Camavinga isn’t planning to entertain those conversations.

A season spiraling downward

His goal now is redemption — to make sure a season to forget is actually forgotten. He’s played 39 matches this year, logging just over 2,000 minutes. That’s 11th‑most on the team, so opportunities haven’t been the issue. Performance has. He lost his starting spot to Thiago, struggled badly down the stretch, and capped it off with a harsh but avoidable red card in Munich. At the Bernabéu against Alavés, he was loudly booed. Instead of hiding, he walked the stadium afterward, apologizing to fans and taking responsibility.

World Cup chances fading

Camavinga’s place in Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad — to be announced March 14 on TF1’s evening news — is far from guaranteed. According to Téléfoot, he’s at real risk of being left out after an inconsistent season with Real Madrid and an underwhelming showing during France’s March international window.

Recent months haven’t helped him. Injuries and limited minutes under Arbeloa have pushed him further from the group expected to travel to the United States. Even with rosters expanding to 26 players, his spot is anything but secure.

In March, he didn’t start either of France’s games — against Brazil or Colombia — despite heavy rotation. N’Golo Kanté and Warren Zaïre‑Emery were preferred. And with Manu Koné expected to return from injury, Camavinga’s place becomes even more precarious.

Right now, he’s seventh in France’s midfield hierarchy. His uneven season and that red card in Munich haven’t helped. In France, many saw that ejection as symbolic — a sign he’s not ready. Deschamps has long been skeptical, even shifting him to left back in the past just to find him minutes.

Playing through pain

His downward slide began with something as mundane as a toothache. In early March, before facing Getafe, Camavinga developed a severe tooth infection. He returned to training before the trip to Vigo but didn’t travel. That night, Arbeloa made a cryptic comment — “I’m happy with the players who wanted to come” — sparking speculation about who wasn’t fully committed. He later tried to clarify, but the explanation didn’t fully land.

What hasn’t been known until now: doctors recommended surgery, but Camavinga refused because it would have sidelined him for key matches — including the Champions League tie against Manchester City.

A clear path to regular playing time

At Real Madrid, excuses don’t matter — only performance. Camavinga knows that. But the final stretch of the season offers him a lifeline. With Arda Güler out for the year, Dani Ceballos out of the rotation, and Thiago likely joining Castilla for their playoff push, Camavinga’s competition in midfield narrows to Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jude Bellingham, and Fede Valverde. He’s expected to get significant minutes in the last five games. For him, these aren’t routine fixtures — they’re a chance to change the narrative.

Fighting the “weak link” label

He knows these games are more obligation than opportunity. They’re his last arguments for a World Cup spot — a spot that’s slipping away. In France’s last international break, he was the only outfield player who didn’t start either match and played just 27 minutes total. His status has dropped, and he knows it.

Inside Real Madrid, the feeling is that he may have plateaued — that the club would listen to offers. But Camavinga is pushing back. A new coach could change everything. The landscape could shift quickly.

His situation is fragile, the tightrope thinner each week. But he hasn’t fallen. Not yet. Camavinga is chasing redemption, clinging to his final life.

Carpe diem.

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