Eduardo Camavinga says he is maturing as a player under Real Madrid coach José Mourinho. After a difficult 2025-26 season, which led to speculation the France midfielder could leave the club, the 23-year-old is taking positive steps. "To be honest, it was a tough, difficult time for me," Camavinga said in Tuesday's news conference ahead of his team's Champions League game at AEK. "But I believe that behind every negative experience there are positive lessons to be learnt."
A struggle for consistency in a season in which Real Madrid underperformed saw Camavinga left out of France's 2026 World Cup squad. Over the summer break he took a short course in the business of entertainment, media and sports at Harvard Business School. "It was a very different experience," he said. "I worked on things I don't usually do: discipline. I arrive two or three hours early to train in the gym. My mindset has changed too; I'm a bit more mature."
Camavinga also reflected on the criticism he received after Madrid's Champions League quarterfinal exit against Bayern Munich, when he picked up a second yellow card in the 86th minute of the second leg. "It hurt. It wasn't about revenge," he said. He earned particular praise for his performance in the recent Clásico win at Barcelona. "What I did in Barcelona will be forgotten, and I'll have to keep doing it in other matches."
He credited Mourinho with helping his progress. "He's very friendly," Camavinga said. "He's a great manager with a rich history. You learn a lot from him every day, particularly about the mindset you need to have on the pitch."
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing