We all know how close Jude Bellingham came to signing for Manchester United in 2020, having a tour of the club’s training ground.
At the weekend we sawJude Bellingham win his first Champions League trophy, in his first season at Real Madrid, having taken a longer route to sign with the Spanish champions via Borussia Dortmund.
But Bellingham was not the only player in Real Madrid’s team at the weekend who Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to bring to Manchester United.
Also a key target for Solskjaer’s United was French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who has been an integral part of the Real Madrid side ever since joining.
Manchester United wanted Eduardo Camavinga
Manchester United pursued Eduardo Camavinga during the summer of 2021, having tracked the French wonderkid’s spell at Rennes.
Fabrizio Romano explained at the time via YouTube: “Manchester United, for the last five or six days, have been really serious on the Camavinga deal.
“They started to open talks with Camavinga’s camp and with people close to Rennes to understand the price. They hope to do a deal for around 30 or 35 million euros.”
However, Real Madrid were also pushing hard for Camavinga, while Manchester United’s big summer investment was £73 million winger Jadon Sancho, choosing not to sign a central midfielder.
Real completed a deal for Camavinga at the end of the window for £34 million, a substantial fee for a 18-year-old, yet one who had already made his France international debut.
It was seen as a smart investment, and perhaps if Manchester United had pushed harder, and earlier, Camavinga would have been playing at Old Trafford.
Camavinga has been big success for Real Madrid
Eduardo Camavinga has already repaid Real Madrid’s investment, and then some. He already looks like a bargain.
Camavinga has now won different trophies for Real in three years; Champions League (x2), La Liga (x2), Spanish Super Cup (x2), Copa del Rey, Super Cup, World Club Cup.
He has done so in a very versatile role too. While he played in his preferred central midfield position this season, in previous campaigns he had to fill in at left-back.
Camavinga’s success has been remarkable because he has won so much already, and is still only 21-years-old.
He won’t be regretting missing out on a move to Manchester United, butthe Red Devils should certainly be lamenting not pushing harder for his signature.