A little like Paul Pogba, Eduardo Camavinga’s future is no closer to being resolved.
Camavinga’s contract at Rennes expires next summer. A report from The Guardian in July strongly linked Manchester United with a move.
The highly regarded French teenager is yet to make a decision on his future, much to the annoyance of Rennes.
While United may be able to sustain taking a loss on Pogba, Rennes can ill afford to lose a rare talent like Camavinga on a free transfer.
Rennes manager Bruno Genesio criticised his form after the first game of the season, suggesting it was due to the indecision over his contract.
Genesio told GFFN: “I think a lot of things are happening in his head. He’s not able to express his full potential, which he hasn’t lost. Sometimes things happen in your head which means it doesn’t work as well in the legs.
“Now, the only explanation is that he has to resolve his situation. As long as he sits on the fence…”
Tough start to the season
Camavinga was substituted after 68 minutes in Rennes’ draw with Lens to start the season, a 1-1 draw.
For Rennes second game, a 1-1 draw away at Brest at the weekend, Camavinga found himself dropped to the bench.
He came on for the last 15 minutes, and then moments later substitute Mathys Tel was also introduced, who at 16, broke Camavinga’s record as Rennes’ youngest ever player.
Losing the appearance record he was so proud of sums up a tricky time for Camavinga right now.
He began the 2020/21 season in the France squad, and ended it with a dip in form and missing out on the Euros.
Speaking in May, Camavinga said, quoted by GFFN: “We are not going to lie, I’ve done an average season. There have been lots of lows, I have not at all done what I needed to do. Aside from that, I have to learn from that to rebound.
“We have to be realistic. I know that I have not only produced good matches. I know that I have an enormous number of things to improve and I am not going to hide behind my age, these are things that happen.”
Caught in the middle
This season is just two games old, but Camavinga continues to find himself in a tough spot. His contract situation will not be helping him at all to clear his mind.
Camavinga’s agent Jonathan Barnett has been evasive over his future, telling Madridista Real (via Fabrizio Romano), just last week, “It’s still too early to make a decision on his future.”
With just a fortnight until the transfer window closes, Rennes are understandably a little frustrated.
Manager Genesio told Top Mercato at the weekend: “We have to put ourselves in the shoes of this 18-year-old player, who has become an international player, who does not know today whether he will stay or leave. It is difficult to manage.”
Camavinga has climbed high in his career already, scoring on his France debut. Despite his own very critical assessment of his campaign in 2020/21, figures via FBRef.com showed Camavinga won the seventh highest number of tackles in Ligue 1.
While Pogba possesses the maturity and perhaps the quality to set his unclear personal situation aside and shine on the pitch, it is not so easy for the teenager.
Camavinga’s summer may end with him at Manchester United if there is a deal to be done. But if his downwards trajectory continues, United may be comfortable missing out.
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