Eduardo Camavinga becomes a key man at Real Madrid

Alberto Toro CAMAVINGA: His displays have made him a fixture in the Madrid team KEY MAN

[{"selector":"#anim-c64e2326-57b3-4c56-9638-1f8a2d703e92","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 169.28640%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6a28053-1d51-4904-b073-994fb2800264 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 3.033980678341304e-7%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Eduardo Camavinga has started 19 of Real Madrid’s last 20 games. He has firmly established himself as Los Blancos' first choice at anchorman.

[{"selector":"#anim-4d2dcde8-3b19-4f1d-82b7-3cf3b8c5bbdb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.30265%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0081b86c-0462-4106-b33b-0c7dfbae7861 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(9.85795430187417%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] The 20-year-old enjoyed a fantastic finish to last season, starting regularly and proving key in the closing stages of Champions League knockout ties.

[{"selector":"#anim-b68aab8b-572f-49bf-a3e2-a8c5de355e83","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-48e9dd96-2c78-43ec-802a-8c9dcd0309f3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.8849557522123894)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"forwards"}] This term, Camavinga's fortunes have ticked upwards since the World Cup. Before the tournament, he had played 722 minutes across 21 games.

[{"selector":"#anim-0a05dbf3-355d-4ece-a252-a7643a3f569c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9aab77c0-3f4c-4d00-9246-a4eb43d602b9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.8928571428571429)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"forwards"}] Since the World Cup, he has racked up more than 1,600 minutes and is Madrid’s fourth-most used player. Vinícius leads the way on 1,800.

[{"selector":"#anim-45fc8dd9-28f4-4043-a061-2155b05ada04","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b87ee817-db9c-4387-bcf8-fe61582028f9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-9.85795430187417%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Qatar 2022 gave us the opportunity to see Camavinga in a different position. For the first time, he played at left-back - and excelled.

[{"selector":"#anim-b2ef956d-4e39-44d5-a2c7-cbb3f1a10471","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 169.28640%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a35793a7-c9d4-4757-a3d1-0534f517eec3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.9009009009009009)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"forwards"}] Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti took note of his good work at full-back, and has opted for him when he’s needed to bring someone in on the left of defence.

[{"selector":"#anim-1f078df0-dfcd-4e20-a0a2-8c3ccf5e7016","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 137.40015%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc0eb920-60c0-44cc-a5f8-d8d14735c92e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(9.85795430187417%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Aurélien Tchouaméni has been the chief casualty of Camavinga’s fine form. He’s now behind his compatriot in the pecking order at anchorman.

[{"selector":"#anim-e3f00455-3b45-4844-ad85-983e4e1ce3bc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 136.09298%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb765a94-ba15-40f4-9d62-4961a9a44201 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 3.033980678341304e-7%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Indeed, Camavinga has so far been given 500 minutes’ more game time this season than Tchouaméni, who joined from Monaco in the summer.

[{"selector":"#anim-acf297d3-12a0-4032-b2fb-64430b18ff06","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-14040620-a694-4f20-a5f5-dfe561a67a37 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-9.85795430187417%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Tchouaméni arrived at Madrid as the fourth-most expensive signing in the club’s history, and was tasked with filling the void left by Casemiro.

[{"selector":"#anim-3c260d45-a756-490e-aa35-241d9d122b3b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.30265%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-44c18643-01e8-420e-a5be-55bc6ddd7b2a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.8695652173913043)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"forwards"}] He began the season excellently, starting 10 games in a row. But a dip in form, coupled with injury absences, has seen him take a back seat.

[{"selector":"#anim-c8299205-29c8-4878-8343-a38642e46770","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7546e774-66ff-4ac4-adea-ff23781413f5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(9.85795430187417%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Camavinga is also ahead of Tchouaméni in the France team. Coach Didier Deschamps has picked the former over the latter in recent games.

[{"selector":"#anim-c5f59168-6ab8-4677-9a46-e3af2c10b9a6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 7.760782355151471e-15%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] YOU'LL FIND MORE GREAT STORIES AT AS USA