Gab Marcotti wonders if Real Madrid would make Kylian Mbappe a free agent when he could be with them next season. (1:03).
Sources tell ESPN that Real Madrid is close to signing Eduardo Camavinga, an 18-year-old French prodigy, from Rennes, on a 5-year, $30 million ($35 million) deal.
The contract for the Ligue 1 midfielder is up after one year. He will be undergoing his medical in Clairefontaine on Tuesday.
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Camavinga's transfer will be finalized on Tuesday. Rennes did not want the player to leave next summer as a free agent and they are satisfied with the deal.
Eduardo Camavinga could soon join Real Madrid. JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP via Getty Images
After talks with Paris Saint-Germain about the transfer of Kylian Maappe had stalled, the deal reached with Rennes was finalized late Monday night. Sources close to Bernabeu insist that the agreement was not related to the end of talks to sign Mbappe.
Madrid has been following Camavinga since the beginning, with Zinedine Zidane, former manager of Madrid, a long-time admirer. Camavinga made his Ligue 1 debut at 16 years old. Camavinga is believed to be the right age to learn from and eventually take over from Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and the rest of Madrid's midfield.
Camavinga was also called up by Sylvain Ripoll to represent France U21 at the Euro 2023 qualifiers.
Camavinga was not the French star Real Madrid and his fans expected, but he was highly sought after. He was a target for PSG, Liverpool and Chelsea as well as Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund. He is an excellent midfielder and has great energy and activity.
This report was contributed by Alex Kirkland, ESPN Madrid correspondent.
