Camavinga: the Real Madrid star who came out of a refugee camp

Today we’re going to talk to you about a particularly inspiring soccer story featuring a young man of a very young age – Eduardo Camavinga. He is now a midfielder for the world’s top club Real Madrid and a member of the French national team. What you may not know, however, is that the footballer, who is now in the limelight, actually had a particularly hard life as a child, even growing up in a refugee camp. His life can be described as a record of growth from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Life as a child: from Africa to France

Camavenga was born on November 10, 2002, in the Angolan province of Cabinda, a war-torn area. His father, Celestino, is Angolan and works in a pig slaughterhouse, where he works hard but still spends a lot of time with his family. His mom, Sofia, is Congolese and a housewife. The family has six children, with Kama being the middle child.

To escape the war, at the age of one, mom and dad moved the family to Lille, a city in northern France. Later, they settled in a small town called Fougeres. Although they finally found a safer place to live, life as a refugee family wasn’t easy.

The love of soccer started with a little trouble at home

When he was a child, Kamawenga took up running and judo, but when he was six years old, his mother couldn’t take it anymore because he was constantly kicking the ball around the house and breaking the furniture, so she sent him to try out for the nearby soccer club, Fougeres Flag. The first time he went to a training session, he stood out by breaking other children’s balls and sending them flying with a kick that made the coach laugh and pause his conversation with his mother to go and pick up the ball.

Fire left the family with nothing

When he was 10 years old, a fire broke out in Karma’s house and the family home was burned down and everything was gone. Because they were an immigrant family, they had no savings and were struggling financially. Luckily, their neighbors reached out and donated clothes and furniture to help them start their lives over. It was a big blow for Camavenga and an important moment in his growth.

Joining Rennes Youth Training and going professional

When he was 11 years old, Camavenga joined the Rennes FC youth camp in France. At the time, the coach noticed that he was playing smart and had him specialize in tackling and defending. Slowly, he got better and better at the game, not only breaking the ball, but also running a long way with it and attacking as well.

In December 2018, at the age of 16, he became the youngest professional player in Rennes’ history. in January 2019 he officially joined the first team. By April, he made his Ligue 1 debut when he came on as a substitute against Angers.

Making his debut and making a name for himself in French football

In August 2019, against Paris Saint-Germain, he put in a stunning performance, becoming the youngest player to record an assist in Ligue 1 since the 2006-07 season, and was also named Man of the Match. He made seven appearances that season, helping Rennes win the Coupe de France.

In December of the same year, he scored his first career goal and became the youngest goal scorer in Rennes’ history. In the match against Lyon, he helped his team to take the victory 1:0.

When he left Rennes, he made it a point to have a Real Madrid jersey for every employee at the club, giving out 166 in total. That kind of gratitude is really rare.

Join Real Madrid and shine in Europe

In fact, when he was 14 years old, Real Madrid scouts noticed him. on August 31, 2021, Camarvinga officially joined Real Madrid. At less than 20 years old, he became the youngest Grand Slam player in the history of Real Madrid.

He made a stunning Real Madrid debut, scoring a goal shortly after coming on as a substitute against Celta to help his team win 5:2. He is the second French player in the last 20 years to score in La Liga at the age of 18, the first being Varane.

He also became the youngest player to have an assist in a Champions League semi-final in almost 20 years. He assisted Vinicius’ goal in Real Madrid’s match against Manchester City.

In the 2022-2023 season, he made 59 appearances for Real Madrid, the most of any player in the team and in La Liga as a whole, and set a Real Madrid record for appearances in a single season, as well as finishing 4th in the Copa Award. This award is one of the best U21 player awards in the world.

He also celebrated the 100th game of his Real Madrid career in the first round of the 2023-2024 season, which was very difficult.

Pride of the National Team

Camavenga was also the first underage French international since World War II. He made his national team debut for France in September 2020, at the age of just under 18, against Croatia in the UEFA Europa League.

He then scored his first national team goal with a beautiful header against Ukraine in a warm-up match in October, helping France to a 7-1 win. He also became the youngest goal scorer for France since 1914.

Despite being rejected by Rennes for the Olympics in 2021, he went on to represent France at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Starting against Tunisia, he became the second youngest player in France’s history to make a World Cup appearance. He also came on as a substitute in the final and ended up finishing runner-up in the World Cup with the team.

Versatile and hard-working lad

Kamauwenga usually plays as a center forward, but sometimes he also plays at the back and left back. He is physically very good, not only is he a fast runner, he is also very explosive. His skills are also very comprehensive, whether it is passing, dribbling or defense, all have a high level.

He is especially hardworking, not only on the field to train hard, but also privately will review the game. He even uses an app to record his performance and constantly improve. He also has a good character, respects his coach and teammates, and is never proud.

He said something like, “The soccer field is very realistic, sometimes you’re at the peak, but one mistake can make you fall down, so you have to be in shape all the time.”

Little fun facts about his life

Kamavunga has some pretty cute habits in his life. He has 10 things he thinks he can’t live without: headbands, gamepads, moisturizer, mom’s chickpeas, cross necklaces, footballs, stereos, family photos, baseball caps, and milkshakes.

He said he couldn’t play soccer at all without a headband to tie his hair. He also jokes that he doesn’t like to use himself when playing games because “he can’t pass the ball.” What he misses the most is his mom’s chicken and beans, a dish that was originally eaten when their family was at its worst, but he thinks it’s the best food in the world. He even shared the dish and the milkshake with a reporter during an interview, saying that his mom would be “angry” if he didn’t finish it.

When he first arrived at Real Madrid, his physical condition was not up to standard, and his body fat and muscle ratio were not good. But he is particularly hardworking, the coach later found that his ability to resist training is particularly strong, so he carried out high-intensity training.

He also learned to play the piano, which was taught to him by his teammate Chuameni, and the two even performed four-handedly. He usually likes to have his head touched, saying it makes him happy. He has a very gentle personality and hardly ever loses his temper.

In 2020, he also received his high school diploma (ES Bachelor) in Economics and Social Sciences. He was the first soccer player to be signed by fashion brand Balenciaga.

Giving back with action

Kamavunga grew up in a refugee camp and has never shied away from it. He was the first soccer star to publicly speak out for refugees. He attends a children’s camp organized by Real Madrid every summer and does what he says he will do every time. One time he told the kids, “We’ll play together next year,” and he actually went back the next year.

areerCrossroads

As 2024 reported that Real Madrid were interested in bringing in Kimmich, a Bayern midfielder known for his precise passing and tactical understanding, whose contract expires in 2025 and is valued at around €50 million. Selling Camarvinga would not only balance the finances, but also make room for Kimmich’s arrival. However, the fans did not buy it, and the hashtag “#StayCama” quickly went viral on the X platform, with tens of thousands of fans commenting, “Camavenga is the future, Real Madrid don’t be stupid!”

Camavenga’s future is also tied to the French national team. He has already made 13 appearances for France, and was a solid substitute against Tunisia in the 2022 World Cup (source: official website of the French Football Federation). But Euro 2024, Kante, Rabio and other midfield competitors strong, he if due to injury status decline, fear that it is difficult to keep the starting position.

Standing at the crossroads of his career, Camarvinga’s choice is crucial. If he stays at Real Madrid, he will need to prove himself with his rehabilitation efforts and regain the trust of the coaching staff. If he moves, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United have been named by As, and a transfer fee of between €50 and €70 million would be a reflection of his value. Whatever the option, the 22-year-old, will need to face the vagaries of the soccer world.

Camavenga’s experience also teaches fans and young players a lesson. Modern soccer is not only an arena of talent, but also a contest of physical strength, will and luck. According to China Sports Daily 2024, the psychological pressure on young players in the soccer world is rising year by year, and injuries are often the “litmus test” for their careers. Can Camarvinga, like Bellingham, shine in the face of adversity? The answer may lie in the next time he steps on the pitch.