Camavinga's plan: convince Xabi Alonso to close the door on his departure from Real Madrid.

Eduardo Camavinga knows he has one of the most important seasons of his career ahead of him. He's only 22 years old, but, about to start his fifth season as a Real Madrid player, he needs to take a step forward to establish himself as a key player in Xabi Alonso's system . And he must do so after a season to forget, in which injuries have been the norm and where he hasn't been able to unleash his full potential.

The Club World Cup confirmed to the Tolosa-born coach the reality of the Real Madrid team's experience last season: they have a serious problem in midfield . After the retirement of Toni Kroos and, now, with the departure of Luka Modric , Madrid is left without the player responsible for taking the lead in the game. Not only that, but the number of players in midfield is much more limited, so this is their best opportunity to make a statement .

Signed in the summer of 2021 from Rennes, Camavinga quickly became an important player for Real Madrid . With his trademark physical exuberance, his ability to break lines with the ball under control, and his ability to occupy a lot of space in long, sustained efforts, he gradually became part of the team's system until he became a player to be reckoned with . A substitute, but with the potential to break down the starting wall.

It didn't take long for him to find another way into the starting eleven: at left back . Obviously, he's not a typical full-back, but his skills and ability to adapt to the needs of the situation made him a key player in that position. First, in games where Madrid had to come from behind, he offered the necessary physical drive from the position; and then, against high-level dribblers, he offered enough defensive skill to dry them out.

However, his footballing evolution hasn't been what was expected , especially regarding his playing style as a midfielder. When it comes to coming back and Madrid's scruff is loose, Camavinga shines with his cheerful, carefree, and almost primal style of play ; but when games are uncontested and close, he continues to raise some eyebrows, losing possession in dangerous areas and being too lax in some defensive phases.

The added problem is that injuries have become a routine feature of his season this season. He has only been able to play 19 games , after suffering up to four injuries of varying severity: he has missed 35 games and has 159 days injured this season , which have prevented him from being consistent. And, what's more, he hasn't been able to spend a single minute under Xabi Alonso 's orders yet, a problem especially when there's a change of coach.

The Tolosa native arrived at Madrid for the Club World Cup and, as such, was his first contact with the squad, with whom he was able to draw footballing conclusions in his first matches. But Camavinga couldn't show him what he's capable of, or what he could contribute to the group . He'll do so at the beginning of next season, but those missed weeks alongside Xabi Alonso are important, as they will force him to push himself to show him that he can be a key player within the team.

Camavinga already knows what it's like to lift two Champions League titles with Madrid , coming off the bench in one final and starting in another, but he's expected to become a driving force for the team. Not just in recovering and occupying space, where he can shine in a two-wing formation, but also in building momentum. In terms of his physicality, he has everything it takes to become a player who fits in with Xabi Alonso's style . But it's time for him to prove it.

The French international has a plan: convince his new coach that he can be key to this Real Madrid side . It's time for Camavinga to take a step forward and establish himself as an indispensable player in the team's most vulnerable position. If not, he's a player with a strong reputation and there's sure to be no shortage of suitors among Europe's top clubs. He's only 22 and has plenty of room to grow: he could be Xabi Alonso's signing.