Rio Antonio Mavuba’s rise from the Bordeaux reserves to the full France side in under a year has been so dramatic he was likely to be pinching himself when he walked out onto the Stade de France pitch for his first start in a competitive international against Republic of Ireland in October 2004.

In January of the same year, the then 20-year-old midfielder was a bundle of nerves as he prepared to make his League debut for Bordeaux against Montpellier. “It’s all happened very quickly,” noted Mavuba before making an uncertain debut against an impressive Irish midfield marshalled by the experienced Roy Keane.

He has nevertheless remained part of Coach Raymond Domenech’s plans and his tenacious displays at the heart of the Bordeaux midfield have attracted the attentions of none other than Real Madrid.

Mavuba’s rapid emergence is all the more astounding given his humble beginnings. Born on a boat off the coast of West Africa as his mother fled war-torn Angola to set up home in France, he never even met his late father, a professional footballer who represented his country, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A difficult youth in the South West of France was helped greatly by Bordeaux, who signed the stocky midfielder onto their books at a young age. His athleticism, skill and endurance soon saw him recognised as a special talent. “He makes the same kind of runs that Jean Tigana did when he was a youngster,” commented ex-France defender Marius Tresor who is on the Bordeaux coaching staff. “He also sprays the ball around with the same panache, though maybe loses possession less often than Tigana did.”

Mavuba had already represented DR Congo at Under-21 level when Domenech, then Coach of the France Under-21s, invited him to play for France in the Toulon tournament last June. The hosts went on to lift the youth crown while Mavuba was voted player of the tournament. “That tournament made me think for the first time that maybe I did have enough talent to play for France,” Mavuba said.

The French Federation wasted no time in acquiring official papers for Mavuba so that he would be eligible to participate in their World Cup campaign. He is now being widely touted not only as a key man in the future of Bordeaux - but also in the future of Les Bleus.