The Remarkable Rise of Eduardo Camavinga
From Refugee Camp to Real Madrid’s Stadium
Eduardo Camavinga’s ascent from an African refugee camp to becoming one of the hottest young talents in football is remarkable. He was born in 2002 in a refugee camp in Cabinda, Angola, where his Congolese parents had fled to escape violence. At just two years old, his family relocated to France as asylum seekers, settling in the Brittany town of Fougères.
Displays of Camavinga’s prodigious footballing abilities emerged early on. He joined local club AGL-Drapeau Fougères at six years old, excelling despite often playing with bigger, older children. Recognizing his outstanding potential, powerhouse club Rennes signed the 11-year old Camavinga to their renowned youth academy in 2013.
Progressing rapidly through Rennes’ system, Camavinga was called up to the senior team in 2018 at only 16 years and 4 months old. He impressed mightily in preseason games and became the club’s youngest ever debutant when he played in a Ligue 1 match in April 2019.
The 2019/2020 season saw the talented teenager emerge as a first-team starter, turning heads with his technical skill, passing range, ball-winning ability and positional maturity beyond his years. By season’s end, he had ousted experienced internationals from Rennes’ lineup and won the Ligue…
