Camavinga: “Escaping a war has helped me. I play for my family "

Camavinga, along with Florentino Pérez and his entire family, this Wednesday at the presentation with Real Madrid.

"If someone told me a few years ago that he would be here ...", sighed Eduardo Camavinga in his brief presentation speech as a new Real Madrid player. In front of him he had his parents, Celestino and Sofía, and his five siblings (he is the third of six). All people carry a past, but some have more history than others. This 18-year-old Frenchman is not just anybody. Because he was born in a refugee camp in Miconje ​​(Angola), where his family fled from the war in the Congo; And because, already in France, one ordinary morning his house burned down completely and nothing was left standing. On those ashes, the father gave that boy Eduardo a phrase almost as a plea: "You are the hope of our family." And this Wednesday, at noon, after completing the first training session with the group,they were all there in Valdebebas.

“Obviously, I have had to escape a war.

That has been able to help me.

But above all, my family has helped me.

When I play, I do it for them.

All these problems have made me stronger, "he said later during the press conference, dressed in a black suit, white shirt and hair tied back.

He has signed for six seasons, will wear number 25 and assured that he feels ready to debut next Sunday against Celta (21.00) in the return to the Bernabéu.

And perhaps it is necessary because two fixed midfielders in the league start (Valverde and Casemiro) will have just landed from a long transoceanic trip after training with their national teams.

But in what position?

"That's a question that I get asked a lot," he warned.

More information

• Madrid sign Camavinga, another young man to renew the midfield

At Rennes, his club of origin and training, he served as a defensive midfielder and, in recent times, more as an interior. He, already as a target, adjusted to the script and said he was there for whatever it took. “I like to play ahead of the defense. But I can also get ahead (in the field). I have to adapt to all styles. My idea is to play as many minutes as possible. I come to learn and I will have to show that I am ready, "he said. Yes, he was more precise when he had to describe his virtues: "Technique and aggressiveness," he said.

Also wanted by PSG, his name returned to the front page in the hottest hours of the

. Madrid's interest in him had been known two years ago, as Camavinga himself admitted this Wednesday at a press conference, but no one counted in the absence of 24 hours for the closing of the market that he would sign for the white club, which closed the operation at 31 million (45 with all variables). "It was done in the last days," he pointed out without wanting to give more explanations. “The first factor has not been money, but the pleasure of playing for Madrid. I didn't think about it once. It was a dream since I was little ”, he proclaimed in one of those statements that they like so much in their new home. And more now.

At only 18, French footballer Eduardo @Camavinga is one of Europe's brightest young stars ⭐⚽

Many already know about his exciting talent.

Now hear his story, starting at a refugee camp in Angola.

@ 433 pic.twitter.com/Ibrubp4iIr

- UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) August 30, 2021

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