Camavinga determined to fight for Real Madrid place as Mourinho deliberates future

Eduardo Camavinga is refusing to give up on his Real Madrid career and is determined to convince new coach Jose Mourinho he still has a role to play at the Santiago Bernabeu, despite being considered among the players the club would be willing to move on.

The 23-year-old midfielder, under contract with Real Madrid until 2029, has endured a difficult season marked by injuries and sustained criticism of his performances, leading Spanish media to report that the club wants to offload him this summer for around €50m.

Yet, according to Spanish newspaper Marca, Camavinga has returned from the off-season fully focused on changing Mourinho’s mind, aware that he is not currently part of the club’s sporting plans for the new campaign.

World Cup disappointment adds to difficult season

The Frenchman had pictured the summer of 2026 very differently. In his own mind, this period was supposed to be about celebrating a World Cup triumph with France.

Instead, although Les Bleus reached the semi-finals of the tournament, Camavinga watched from afar. Didier Deschamps did not include him in his squad announced on 14 May, despite having often backed the player in the past.

Being omitted from France’s World Cup plans was described as a major blow for the midfielder, compounding the frustration of a season in which injuries and inconsistency left him struggling to secure a regular role at Real Madrid.

Club willing to sell – but player digs in —

Those struggles have contributed to Real Madrid’s willingness to listen to offers. Camavinga, however, has taken the opposite stance and is intent on proving he still has value “on and off the pitch”, as relayed by Marca.

In an attempt to reset and prepare himself mentally and physically, Camavinga took a short break before completing an intensive four-day executive education programme at Harvard Business School in entertainment, media and sports (BEMS). He has since rejoined pre-season training with what has been described as maximum intensity.

As Mourinho’s first pre-season with Real Madrid gets under way, Camavinga is said to fully understand the precariousness of his current situation and the importance of the coming weeks in shaping his future at the club.

Mourinho to assess midfield options —

Mourinho is keen for the club to sign another midfielder this summer, but reports in Spain suggest that Rodri of Manchester City does not match his specific requirements for the role he wants to fill.

At the same time, Camavinga also does not appear to fit Mourinho’s ideal profile at this stage, and Real Madrid remain ready to sell if their €50m valuation is met.

Even so, Mourinho intends to give Camavinga an opportunity to stake his claim in the immediate future. The Frenchman is aiming to seize that chance in Friday’s pre-season friendly against Alcorcon, after which he is awaiting the Portuguese coach’s verdict on his performance and prospects.

Ignoring Premier League interest —

Despite uncertainty over his place and Real Madrid’s readiness to negotiate a sale, Camavinga is not pushing for a move and is, according to Marca, actively turning down interest from abroad.

Manchester City and Manchester United are both reported to be monitoring his situation and have shown an interest in signing him, but Camavinga is said to be rejecting all approaches as he focuses solely on trying to convince Mourinho and remain in Madrid.

For now, his stance is clear: he will fight for his Real Madrid future in pre-season and wait for Mourinho’s response before contemplating any change of scene.