Madrid (AFP)

Emergence of an exceptional player or flash in the pan like last season with Rennes?

With a goal on Sunday and an assist that saved the "White House" on Wednesday in C1 against Inter Milan, Eduardo Camavinga made a dream debut at Real Madrid.

"I have already been told that I had a lucky star, but it's the daily work that pays!" Exclaimed the 18-year-old French prodigy at the microphone of Canal + on Wednesday evening.

A few minutes earlier, as a symbol, he entered the 80th in place of the icon Luka Modric and offered the 89th an inspired assist to the Brazilian Rodrygo (20) to seal Real's first victory in the Champions League, competition that the Madrid club has won thirteen times.

For his first game in his new colors, Sunday against Celta Vigo in La Liga, he came into play in the 66th and scored his first goal in the 72nd (final success 5-2).

In just over half an hour of play in two matches at Real, Eduardo Camavinga has therefore accumulated a goal and an assist.

A thunderous debut reminiscent of his sparkling first steps in the Stade Rennes jersey.

Launched in Ligue 1 by Julien Stéphan in the spring of 2019, when he was only 16, then became the youngest French international for a century in September 2020, author of a sublime goal against Ukraine for his second match in Blue , Camavinga seduced the French public with his carefree attitude, his smile and his knowledge of the game.

- Decrease in speed -

But after these debuts with fanfare, the performance of the young midfielder has declined in recent months: last season, he already totaled a goal and an assist after his first two matches with Rennes in the summer of 2020, before disappearing.

A sad penalty obtained against Sevilla in the Champions League in December 2020, and an assist against Dijon in April.

And nothing at all in four L1 matches this season, before his departure for Spain.

Real Madrid players, including Frenchman Eduardo Camavinga (c), congratulate each other after opening the scoring in the Champions League match between Inter Milan and Real Madrid on September 15, 2021 at the San Siro stadium in Milan .

MIGUEL MEDINA AFP

Can this drop in power be repeated?

Tracked by Zinédine Zidane for several years and recruited this summer by Real Madrid for six years and EUR 31m (+ EUR 9m as a bonus), the young midfielder has in any case so far succeeded to seduce supporters and observers.

"The kids are so big!" Exclaimed the sports newspaper Marca on Thursday, referring to the goal action built between Federico Valverde (23), Camavinga (18) and Rodrygo (20) .

- "I learned it in Rennes" -

"Camavinga's entry is very good. Often when you come in late in the Champions League you are anxious because you have a lot to prove in a short period of time. But the action of the goal proves that he has a lot. in cold blood. It's a ball that he could have controlled or hit, but he read the action perfectly and he saw a pass before everyone else, "praised Alvaro Benito, former Merengue player and consultant for the Movistar + channel.

The new Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, who pulled off a tactical blow by throwing the decisive scorer and passer in the second half, calmed the ardor, and asked for "patience" with the French diamond, who must "progress further. in defense ".

"It's a sequence that I had learned in Rennes with Mathieu Le Scornet (ex-assistant coach of Stade Rennes), who often told me to pass and run deep to bring danger. that I did with Fede (Valverde), he served me well and I was able to serve Rodrygo, "Camavinga told beIN Sports after the game.

So, shooting star or nascent "Galactic"?

For now replacing, Camavinga could grab some playing time and settle in this aging midfielder of Real Madrid, between Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro.

The rising sun has probably not finished shining.

© 2021 AFP