Even Julien Stéphan let himself be overwhelmed.
In May 2019, when he had just offered his first tenure to Eduardo Camavinga in Ligue 1 against Monaco (2-2, May 1, 2019), the Stade Rennais coach wanted to take his time.
"Eduardo is scheduled to be the holder in the second part of the next season," he said privately to his interlocutors about his player then aged 16.
Five months later, on the eve of the Europa League match against AS Roma (defeat 1-2, October 3, 2019), Stéphan recognized that his midfielder, already holder, was the best player in his squad.
So goes the life of Camavinga, precocious talent, summoned for the first time to the French team by Didier Deschamps.
If selected against Sweden (September 5) or Croatia (September 8), the 17-year-old Rennais could also become the youngest post-war player to wear the blue jersey ahead of Maryan Wisnieski in 1955 then 18 years, 2 months and 2 days old.
He would even be ahead of his new partner, the Parisian Kylian Mbappé, who was 18 years, 3 months and 5 days old when he made his first appearance against Luxembourg (3-1, March 25, 2017).
A native of Miconje in Angola and raised in Fougères, about fifty kilometers from Rennes, “Cama” was naturalized French last December.
A civic ceremony for which this son of a squarer did not hesitate to put a bow tie around his neck.
Today, this French nationality allows him to put a foot in the door of the Blues.
But it was above all his repeated performances during the last season - his first at a high level - that convinced Didier Deschamps to call him.
"His personality reminds me of Kylian Mbappé's"
It must be said that despite some less successful performances, the left-hander impressed observers with his ability to play the bosses of the midfield.
“He's the one who sets the pace, who brings confidence.
We saw him after his entry into play in Lille (1-1) on the first day, notes Olivier Létang the former president of Stade Rennais who offered him his first professional contract at 16.
Eduardo is the team's game architect.
He creates, he is available, many balloons pass through him, and the other players seek him immediately.
It is an additional register.
"
Leadership that is exercised on, but also off the field.
Those around him describe a young man full of spontaneity and freshness, imbued with astonishing maturity.
“Leadership is natural for him.
His smile lights up when he walks into a room, and he communicates well, adds Létang.
His personality reminds me of Kylian Mbappé's.
There are similarities, in the tranquility and strength that the two exude.
"
Stronger physically
Like Mbappé, therefore, after his arrival at PSG in 2017, Camavinga also took advantage of his time in the professional world to perfect his physique.
“Where he surprised the most was in the ability to stay upright in duels, to be at the physical level of Ligue 1,” says Benjamin Idrac, journalist at Ouest-France and follower of Stade Rennais.
When he landed, Eduardo had this ability to leap into the opponent's feet to defend while advancing.
But it was necessary to hold in the duels, and at the beginning we saw rather a shrimp which squirted when he took a tampon.
Today, whether in aerial duels or shoulder to shoulder, it is difficult to move.
"
“Cama” has given himself the means to achieve his ambitions by increasing the number of bodybuilding sessions during confinement, focusing on the upper body.
“Physically, he's no longer the same player, he's an athlete,” comments Benjamin Idrac.
This is seen on the pecs, arms, shoulder width apart and to a lesser extent on the thighs.
"
A physical power that has in no way affected its natural qualities.
Because if the Rennes number 10 (his jersey number like Mbappé with the Blues) insists on his defensive progress, the Rennes staff especially praise his ability to be decisive in the truth zone.
“Its real evolution is in the offensive aspect,” says Olivier Létang.
Eduardo is more relaxed, more fluid in body language and movement.
He now does professionally what he did in the lower categories when he scored, for example, a treble at 15 in National 3. "
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Benjamin Idrac also notes significant progress in the last thirty meters.
“Camavinga was very shy when he entered this area, he was thinking too much.
Some even thought he had a bad shot when not at all.
We felt he had a step forward in this area.
What he did on Saturday with his goal against Montpellier (
Editor's note: 2-1 victory for Rennes
).
"
