Eduardo Camavinga was born in Angola in Miconje, a small town in a refugee camp. Then, in 2003, he moved his family to Fougeres, which is about 50 kilometers northeast of Rennes, France.

Being a child wasn’t easy for Camavinga. His mother tried to get him to commit to karate. He was the third of six children. His father Celestino took him to play football at Drapeau Fougeres after he had spent a lot of time at home and everything in sight. The small club will now get some of the money he makes from his move to Real Madrid.

The man now says, “I didn’t know anything.” “My mom took me and signed me up.” I remember dribbling the ball around.”

Camavinga kicked a ball for the first time when he was seven years old. After that, he always played with older kids. Rennes liked him so much that they asked him to play in a summer event. It was at that tournament that he caught Julian Stephan’s attention.

A fire that changed his life

Camavinga was only 11 years old in 2013, but things were going to go badly. It was almost time for him to sign at Rennes, but his house burned down. His family got the things they needed from a charity.

“They lost everything,” said Nicolas Martinais, who taught him when he was young. “That house was a sea of tears.”

It was the next day that Camavinga had to go to training, and football helped him relax. “It was a way to escape.”

In an interview with Ouest France in 2020, Camavinga talked about his childhood and how his father had told him things.

“Don’t worry, son, you’ll be a great football player and rebuild this house,” the dad of the player told his son.

Camavinga said, “That’s what he told me.” “My family looked up to me.” They were already pleased with me, but I knew I could make them even happier.

Being strong and able to get through hard times

That morning is still fresh in Camavinga’s mind.

“We had been at that house, which my parents had built, for less than a year,” said Camavinga.

“The fire seems like it happened just yesterday.” I saw the firemen go by the window while I was at school. The teacher came up to me and my sister at the end of class and told us what had happened. Our dad picked us up and took us there. Everything was destroyed and burned.”

Camavinga will now wear Real Madrid’s shirt, even though he is only 18.