Getafe full-back Dani Carvajal gave an interview to AS, talking about his time at Real Madrid, and the farewell he received from the club and fans. He said: “I had an incredible farewell at Real Madrid, one of the best experiences of my life. Going out onto the street and feeling the warmth of the Madrid fans thanking me for everything I’ve done and asking me to come back in the future is what fills me with the most joy, more than any titles. Knowing that the fans are proud of how I gave my all is the ultimate
feeling.”
Carvajal on Vinicius Junior
“Vini Jr is a fantastic person. He brings immense joy to the locker room. And he’s never hesitated to carry the team on his shoulders, to ask for the ball when matches were at their toughest, and that’s something to be valued. A player who never hides. I think that objectively, right now, with the sending-off the other day, with the doubts about whether he should play or not… well, it’s not a pleasant situation for absolutely anyone. But Vini has bounced back from harder situations. He needs to stay calm; he just renewed his contract, he has years ahead of him, he’s a spectacular player, and we’re going to see that unstoppable Vini again very soon.”
Carvajal on his best moments as a Real Madrid player
“The day of my presentation, without a doubt. The day of La Decima, which marked the beginning of a golden era of 12 years, with a very young group and homegrown players like Nacho, Morata, and Joselu. And I also cherish the day of my farewell.”
Carvajal on regrets about his injury in 2024
“Do I regret going for the ball that caused my bad injury in 2024? We were winning 2-0, and it was the last minute. But that’s just how I am. My mother often tells me, ‘With Getafe, take it easy now, pace yourself, don’t go for every ball.’ I tell her, ‘I don’t do that, that’s not me.’ What’s gotten me to this career is giving my all in every training session and every match. That’s how I understand this sport, and I’m not going to change it. And well, life isn’t always a bed of roses. That injury after the Euro was a tough blow, but you have to be positive. I’ve been able to enjoy my children’s childhood, spend a lot of time at home, and become much stronger mentally by overcoming small phases of recovery. That major injury has made me mature a lot.”
Carvajal on the coach he was most comfortable with
“I’ve had many coaches, and I take away little things from each one… but the one I’ve spent the most time with and had the most success with is Carlo. He’s almost like a second father. In his second stint with the team, the relationship was different because I was one of the captains; he’s seen me grow up, so I’d have to say Carlo.”
Carvajal on Sergio Ramos
“Did I speak to Sergio Ramos about reuniting together at Getafe? Yes, I spoke with him. He told me it was complicated at Getfa because we have five or six center-backs. He said he was going to keep training in case an opportunity came up. He’s still open to the market, in case something comes up that excites him. He’s a beast when it comes to training and preparing…”
Carvajal on El Clasico
“I watched it wearing a Real Madrid shirt. I was nervous. I thought it was a fantastic match. Both teams played great, but especially Real Madrid, who never gave up. Real Madrid made a statement.”
Carvajal on Fede Valverde at right-back
“He’s very versatile. His physical attributes make him incredibly fast, he’s got great power and stamina. He’s doing very well.”
Carvajal on UCL comebacks at the Bernabeu
“I’d pay a fortune to relive something like that, honestly. I mean, you can’t even imagine… The atmosphere in those Champions League matches is indescribable. A key moment for me is when they announced ‘six minutes of added time’ over the PA system and the stadium just transformed [against Man City in 2022]. We’ve all been so lucky to experience that.”
Carvajal on Kylian Mbappe
“Kylian Mbappé is a beast; he was incredible in the Clásico the other day. You actually can’t mark him any better than Barca did. Cubarsi cut him off a couple of times, grabbed him, and Kylian still beat him… He scores by galloping past defenders. Based on his abilities, he’s one of the strongest players I’ve ever seen. Ever.”
Carvajal on Cristiano Ronaldo
That guy is going to reach 1000 goals, for sure. And he deserves it. He’s the epitome of discipline, of perseverance… People tend to remember him from his later years. Anyone who might not have seen Cristiano here at Real Madrid, especially… he was incredible; they should see him. And especially in the locker room. He’d tell me, in an important Champions League match: ‘Look, when you get there, you put it anywhere, I’ll be right there.’ And you’d think: ‘God, I can take on anyone, I’ll put you through every time’. He was so imposing… a predator in the box.”
