Rio Antonio Mavuba’s rise from the Bordeaux reserves to the full France side has been so dramatic it is hardly surprising that he is setting himself ambitious goals.

“Juventus are the club of my dreams but I wouldn't mind playing for Arsenal or Real Madrid either," the 20-year-old revealed in a recent interview.

It is that same confidence, that same self-belief, which has enabled Mavuba to make the step up to international football so smoothly. Indeed Raymond Domenech had no hesitation in thrusting the assured, but relatively untried, youngster into his France side for the crucial World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in October.

Just nine months earlier he was preparing to make his Ligue 1 debut for Bordeaux against Montpellier. “It’s all happened very quickly,” said Mavuba before the Irish match.

“I’ve never played at the Stade de France before and I have to admit it’s something I’ve dreamt about ever since I was little. It will be a very special occasion.”

Truth be told, Mavuba struggled to impose himself against a tenacious Irish side, led by the ever-hungry Roy Keane. “I found it hard to get a grip on the game,” Mavuba admitted after the goalless draw. “Keane is one of the best players in the world and, though I wasn’t scared of him, it was a testing match for me. I got through it, though, and I’ll be a better player for the experience.".

Mavuba's recent form for Bordeaux suggests he is right. Tough tackling, accurate passing and impressive speed are among the qualities that have seen him emerge as a senior figure in Michel Pavon’s side this season.

His rapid rise 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, Mavuba 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 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 made me think for the first time that maybe I did have enough talent to play for France,” Mavuba said.

Domenech obviously felt he did, selecting him for the full France side in his first game in charge, a friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina in August. After a lively and productive opening 20 minutes, Mavuba’s influence faded and he was substituted at half-time. “I wasn’t disappointed to go off because I considered the fact that I was even out there to be a fantastic achievement,” he said.

The French Federation set about acquiring official papers for Mavuba so that he would be eligible to participate in France’s World Cup campaign. “I’m proud to be officially classed as French,” he said after getting the green light, “and now that is all sorted I want to concentrate on my football.”

With the paperwork out of the way and Mavuba settled in France, the future looks bright both for Bordeaux and Les Bleus.