Xabi Alonso faces dilemma over 22-year-old’s role at Real Madrid – report | OneFootball

According to AS, Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is currently unsure about how to best use Eduardo Camavinga when the French midfielder returns from injury.

The 22-year-old is still recovering from a serious setback he suffered back in April, and as a result, Alonso has not had the chance to test him in competitive matches since taking over at the club.

Camavinga has become one of Real Madrid’s most versatile players in recent years. Under Carlo Ancelotti, he filled several roles.

However, this versatility has also created a problem. No one seems to know which position gets the best out of him, and that question remains unanswered for Alonso as the new season approaches.

With Camavinga yet to make a full recovery, the Frenchman himself is also in the dark about where he will fit into Alonso’s plans.

While Aurelien Tchouameni has now settled into the defensive midfield role, Camavinga is still something of an unknown quantity when it comes to his best position.

Injury played a big role

Xabi Alonso needs to define a position for Eduardo Camavinga. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Last season was frustrating for Camavinga, who missed 29 games due to injuries. That is almost 45% of Real Madrid’s matches, a worrying figure for a player once considered one of the brightest talents of his generation.

Now, with the 2025/26 campaign underway, Alonso is hoping to finally unlock Camavinga’s full potential. The timing could actually work in the midfielder’s favour.

Jude Bellingham is set to miss most of the season’s first half after undergoing shoulder surgery, leaving a gap in Real Madrid’s midfield rotation.

This opens a window for Camavinga to step up and show why he is still considered a key piece for the future.

The challenge for Alonso is to decide where to play Camavinga and give him the consistency he needs to shine.

Whether as a pivot, a box-to-box midfielder, or in another role entirely, the coach knows that getting the best out of Camavinga will be crucial in keeping Madrid’s midfield engine running smoothly during the months ahead.