Man Utd need to sign a new midfielder at the end of the season and Eduardo Camavinga should be on their shortlist.
Camavinga has been on United’s radar for years.(Image: 2025 Diego Souto)
“He’s a player with extraordinary qualities. He can play anywhere on the pitch, he’s special. He can play as a midfielder, or as a defender,” said Carlo Ancelotti of Eduardo Camavinga.
Camavinga is supremely talented and he was on Manchester United’s radar before he signed for Real Madrid, so perhaps United should reignite their interest at the end of the season.
You were probably tempted to close the article after reading that sentence. “Why would a Madrid player join United?” you likely thought. It may seem unlikely, but stranger things have happened in football.
Camavinga has slotted back into Madrid’s team after recovering from an ankle injury, starting three games, but he was back on the bench for the 4-0 victory against Valencia at the Bernabeu.
A move for Camavinga would be ambitious. It’s not rocket science to work out that he is at the best club to lift major honours, although Madrid may consider parting ways with Camavinga if the money is right. Every player has a price in football. Nobody is outright not for sale.
United were interested in signing Carlos Baleba from Brighton in the summer transfer window. Brighton value Baleba in excess of £100million and that valuation won’t change much by next summer.
Yes, a move for Camavinga seems unlikely, but it would make sense to make an offer to Madrid before potentially spending a similar fee on Baleba, who is not on the same level.
If United are prepared to commit a package worth around £80m to £90m for a midfield signing, they should test Madrid’s resolve for a dream target before turning to someone like Baleba.
What have United got to lose? You miss all the shots you don’t take. United were first interested in Camavinga in 2021 when he was at Rennes and had entered the final year of his contract.
Camavinga pictured against Liverpool.(Image: Getty Images)
The argument to at least consider sending an enquiry about Camavinga is essentially based on Baleba not being worth the fee Brighton valued him at. The 21-year-old failed in his audition at Old Trafford last month and he hasn’t looked like a £50m player, never mind a £100m player.
Baleba was substituted at half-time against Everton in August, and he didn’t look like the midfielder who caught United’s attention last season when he came off the bench against Bournemouth in September.
Speaking after Bournemouth, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler admitted he was struggling. “I think it’s normal for a young player when the media creates the noise around him,” he said.
“It’s not easy for this player to handle it. Therefore, we need to give him the time and support so he comes back to his best performance.
“But he’s a young player and I think that’s something we have to accept, that young players don’t always have the face we want to see. It’s our responsibility to help them in the right moments.”
When asked specifically if the interest from United had affected the midfielder, the Brighton boss added: “I think everyone gets affected, especially when you are that young and you hear these kinds of things, no matter if they are wrong or right. But it’s just noise we don’t need.”
Baleba must improve and put an underwhelming start to the campaign behind him if he wants to earn a move to Old Trafford. United must consider other options in the meantime, including ambitious targets.