Eduardo Camavinga has revealed why he turned down Manchester United in order to wait for Real Madrid, eventually getting the move he wanted.
It was overall a good summer for United in the transfer window, signing long term targets Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane before adding the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, a signing that wasn’t as popular as you might think.
However most fans agree the one thing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team was still lacking was a defensive midfielder, with the team stacked in attacking positions.
One player the Premier League giants reportedly wanted was Camavinga, with the club reportedly making a move for the Rennes midfielder. Instead the 18-year-old moved to Real on deadline day.
The 18-year-old has revealed it was never really a choice for him, having dreamt of playing for Los Blanco before.
“Honestly, the first factor is not money, it is the pleasure of fulfilling a dream I had since I was little,” the France international said at his official unveiling.
“When I found out that I could sign for Madrid, I didn’t think about it.”
Talking about his future, the teenager added, “The first factor for me was the pleasure of fulfilling the dream of playing for Real Madrid, playing with footballers who are going to teach me a lot.”
Real had moved for Kylian Mbappe earlier in the final week of the transfer window but PSG were steadfast in not wanting to sell him.
The Ligue 1 giants were also linked with a future move for Camavinga, with the teenager’s deal at Rennes due to expire next summer.
However the Spanish side gazumped both PSG and United to make a move on Deadline Day and secure a player who could easily be in their first team for the next decade and a half.
Solskjaer’s need for a defensive midfielder has only been multiplied by an early season injury to Scott McTominay, which is likely to see him out till October.
Fred’s early season performances have also been criticised but worse still for the United boss will be the Brazilian missing for the next two games.
That’s what could happen, with the South American’s FA calling on FIFA to ban those Premier League players who didn’t travel for the international break.
