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‘Classy’ Eduardo Camavinga gifts France shirts to Ukrainian opponents
Published 15:24 10 Jun 2022 BST
Homesport
Lovely gesture from Camavinga and France
Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga delivered a message of support to Ukraine's players and gifted them shirts after an U21 match against France. The two sides played out a 3-3 draw on Thursday in a 2023 European U21 Championship qualifier, with the game played at the Necmi̇ Kadioğlu Sports Complex in Istanbul due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. After the match, Camavinga offered the Ukrainian players the French team's shirts in the dressing room as a show of solidarity and support. The 19-year-old, speaking in broken English, said: "This is the shirts for all of you because I know, we know, that the situation is very complicated. This is a present for all of you.
"The bad situation, I hope and all persons in Europe hope that the situation will be better."
He received a round of applause from the Ukrainian players and staff, and has been praised on social media for the gesture.
How did social media react?
One Twitter user wrote: "What a great sign of respect by Eduardo Camavinga & the whole U21 French side." https://twitter.com/GS7_89/status/1535208211376181249 A second wrote: "Love this gesture ! Camavinga seems like a sweet person". https://twitter.com/EPiekalkiewicz/status/1535243001223585802 Another person stated: "What a person, great role model". https://twitter.com/ftakeith/status/1535159550722166785
A fourth said: "Eduardo Camavinga gifting the Ukraine U21 squad France shirts after their 3-3 draw in Euro u21 qualifier match. Classy gesture".
https://twitter.com/ElijahKyama/status/1535237774353244163
Camavinga, who completed a transfer to the Spanish capital from Rennes last year, was born in a refugee camp in Angola before moving to France with his family at the age of two.
He has since represented France at senior level, becoming the youngest player to do so in over 100 years in the process.
Camavinga has made 46 appearances for Los Blancos throughout his debut season and came on from the bench in their dramatic late comeback against Manchester City in the Champions League semi-final.
His mature performances in Carlo Ancelotti's midfield have seen him tipped to be a long-term successor to the ageing duo of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
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