One match away from the 100 officials with Real Madrid and all the possible titles won, it is an extraordinary case of adaptation and performance after arriving at just 18 years of age.

On the afternoon of August 31, 2021, Real Madrid made the signing of Eduardo Camavinga official. Many understood it as a smoke screen to cover the non-arrival of Kylian Mbappé. But those who sponsored the operation (31 million, plus 9 in variables for Rennes) were clear that it was a well-done signing, present and future.

In his first season, after an explosive start, he had a difficult winter, but Camavinga turned out to be an essential element in understanding how Real Madrid rose again and again in the Champions League from comebacks to end up being European champions in Paris against him. Liverpool.

In the second, the Frenchman was the player who appeared in the most games (59 of 61) and in which Ancelotti found answers on the left-back when Mendy was injured and in the many facets that he displays as a midfielder. In Bilbao, in the first league game, Camavinga will turn 100 officials with the Madrid shirt.

Due to the quantity and quality of meetings, his case is an exception. Very young players have triumphed in Madrid, with those from Quinta del Buitre, Raúl and Casillas at the forefront. But it is one thing to arrive from home and quite another to show up at Madrid at the age of 18, face such a drastic life change and resolve it with so much personality and with everything that can be gained with Madrid already won.

Prosinecki’s Odyssey

For many years, the foreigners who came to Real Madrid were already mature and seasoned players in the elite. This was required by the limit of foreigners. In the summer of 1991, Ramón Mendoza faced a great signing of a young man. It was Robert Prosinecki, pearl of the European champion Red Star in Bari that same year. He was 22 years old. Not since 1979, when Cunningham was 23, had a top-level foreigner arrived so young. After leaving 450 million pesetas in the coffers of the Belgrade team, Prosinecki began a path that had the same pattern as that of the Englishman: injury after injury to deny him everything. In his first season he was only able to play five games.

Dubovsky, quality and coldness

Mourned since his tragic death during his vacation in Thailand in 2000, Peter Dubovsky also arrived at Madrid in 1993. His left-footed foot had made the white coaches fall in love after a UEFA duel with Slovan from Bratislava.

It was not easy for him to go through Madrid. Just over 30 games, a couple of goals and flashes of high quality turned off by his shyness and coldness. After two seasons, he went to Oviedo, where he showed the player that he was.

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Petkovic, with the market closed

Dejan Petkovic signed for Madrid in mid-September 1995 with the idea of joining the team in December. On December 17, he made his debut under Jorge Valdano after leaving Red Star. They were turbulent times for Madrid. He played four more games before beginning a loan trip that would never see him wear Real Madrid white again.

Seedorf was already European champion

This one yes. Directly convinced by Capello, Lorenzo Sanz dressed Clarence Seedorf in white. He was 20 years old and was essential to understand Madrid that won the League with Capello in 96-97 and a year later returned the European Cup to the white windows after 32 years. He started from minute one. Unlike Camavinga, the Dutchman was already installed in the European elite and had been European champion with Ajax.

Robinho, fireworks

His debut in Cádiz, on August 28, 2005, made Real Madrid rub their hands. Robinho seemed like a phenomenon to mark an era. The long battle to sign him made sense. However, that was the best thing he left in a Madrid that he arrived at at the age of 21 and from which he left three years later in a bad way.

Marcelo, absolute legend

Biggest words in the history of Madrid, the captain of the Fourteenth and 16 seasons at the club. But his beginnings did not have the solidity of those of Camavinga. He arrived at the same age, 18, but in the winter market (January 2006). His start was not easy, with only six games and a coach, Capello, without much confidence in the youngsters. What came after is already known: 16 seasons, 24 titles, five Champions…

Higuaín, without connection with the stands

He appeared next to Marcelo. He played more and throughout his career at Madrid (seven seasons) he scored 121 goals, some of them very important. However, El Pipa never had the empathy with the stands that Camavinga has achieved in just two years. Gago is also from that litter, who arrived at the age of 20, but he never got close to Marcelo and Higuaín.

Benzema, blood and sweat

If anyone can explain what it means to have faith, believe in himself and be sure that he was going to succeed at Madrid, it is Karim Benzema. He arrived in July 2009, at the age of 21, along with Kaká and Cristiano, and the shadow of doubt stayed with him for many seasons. He never gave up; Neither did Madrid. He has just left as the second highest scorer in the club’s history and within the top 5 of its best footballers.

Odegaard, the other face

In the passage of young players who came to Madrid with the appearance of being stars, there is a good collection, but none like Odegaard. The Norwegian stepped foot in Valdebeas in the winter of 2015, at the age of 16. He marked his path at Castilla, he flew in several assignments but every time he had the challenge of settling in the first team it got out of hand. He left the white ship with the feeling of having thrown in the towel.

Özil’s talent

He arrived in Madrid at the age of 21 (2011) and with a military service done, because he had been the undisputed starter for Germany in the World Cup in South Africa. His individual quality is well above Camavinga’s, but the Frenchman matches that scale with energy, enthusiasm and personality.

Vinicius and Rodrygo

Two present stars for Madrid, two examples of the policy of signing what seems very expensive because they were kids (16 and 17 years old, respectively when they signed). Today they are essential pieces in what Madrid is and will be. But the two of them, especially Vinicus, can tell Camavinga that his impact on the team and the way to get a place without anyone debating that he should play every game is something abnormal and within the reach of very few.

Now Camavinga can serve as a mirror for two very young kids who join the cause: Bellinhgam and Güler.

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