Xabi Alonso aiming to rejuvenate Real Madrid midfielder next season | OneFootball

Eduardo Camavinga heads into the 2025/26 season with a point to prove.

After a difficult and injury-plagued campaign under Carlo Ancelotti, the Frenchman is looking to rediscover the spark that once made him one of Europe’s most exciting young talents.

Camavinga, after all, endured a frustrating 2024/25 season, one defined by inconsistency and fitness issues.

He missed the start of the campaign due to a knee injury and suffered three more setbacks throughout the year, including a major adductor tear in April that ruled him out of the final stretch of the season.

These injuries not only affected his rhythm but also appeared to chip away at his confidence, which Ancelotti never fully managed to restore.

Xabi Alonso’s plan with Camavinga next season

According to MARCA, new manager Xabi Alonso sees Camavinga as a vital piece in Madrid’s generational overhaul, though his exact role remains unclear.

Eduardo Camavinga’s season was marred by injuries. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

While the Frenchman has always considered himself a natural central midfielder, that position appears to be firmly held by Aurelien Tchouameni, who also started ahead of him during the World Cup and under Ancelotti.

Xabi has experimented with different profiles in pre-season, including Guler playing deeper, and Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham taking on more creative duties in midfield.

But Camavinga, still recovering, has yet to feature under the new boss and remains a bit of a tactical mystery.

Left-back also remains an option, a position he filled under Ancelotti, but with Alex Carreras joining Fran García and Ferland Mendy, that flank looks well covered.

As we gear up for the new season, it will be important for Xabi Alonso to define a clear role for Camavinga if he is to revive the French international next season.