Dani Carvajal’s clearest measure of what Real Madrid meant to him isn’t a trophy. In an interview with AS, the Getafe full-back said the farewell from Madrid supporters ranks among the best experiences of his life. Their warmth in the street, their thanks and their hope he might return meant more to him than titles. “Knowing that the fans are proud of how I gave my all is the ultimate feeling,” he said.
The moments that stayed with him
Carvajal named three memories from his Madrid career: his presentation, winning La Décima and his farewell. He sees the 2014 Champions League triumph as the start of a golden 12-year period, shaped in part by a young group that included academy products Nacho, Morata and Joselu.
He also singled out the Bernabéu’s Champions League comebacks as experiences he’d pay dearly to relive. Against Manchester City in 2022, the stadium changed when the public address system announced six minutes of added time. “The atmosphere in those Champions League matches is indescribable,” he said.
An injury that changed his perspective
Carvajal doesn’t regret challenging for the ball in the final minute of a 2-0 match in 2024, the moment that led to a serious injury. His instinct, he said, is to give everything in training and matches; that approach has carried him through his career, and he won’t change it.
The injury, which came after the European Championship, was a severe setback. But recovery also gave him more time at home with his children and helped him grow mentally as he worked through each stage. He said the experience made him more mature.
Carvajal’s mother now urges him to pace himself at Getafe and avoid chasing every ball. His response: “I don’t do that, that’s not me.”
Backing Vinícius through a difficult spell
Carvajal described Vinícius Júnior as a joyful presence in the dressing room and a player who takes responsibility when matches are at their toughest. He praised his willingness to demand the ball and said he “never hides.”
He acknowledged that Vinícius faced an uncomfortable moment after a recent sending-off and uncertainty over whether he should play. Still, Carvajal believes the forward can handle it. Vinícius has come through harder periods, he said, and has years ahead after renewing his contract. Carvajal expects him to return to his best soon.
Carlo Ancelotti, Ramos and the current Madrid side
Among the many coaches he played for, Carvajal said Carlo Ancelotti was the one he spent the most time with and enjoyed the greatest success under. He called Ancelotti “almost like a second father,” adding that their relationship deepened during the Italian’s second spell, when Carvajal was one of the captains and Ancelotti had watched him grow up.
Carvajal also said he had spoken with Sergio Ramos about a possible reunion at Getafe. Ramos told him the club already had five or six centre-backs and that he would keep training while waiting for an opportunity that appealed to him. Carvajal praised Ramos’s commitment to preparation.
He watched El Clásico in a Madrid shirt and called it a fantastic match, praising both teams and Madrid’s refusal to give up. He said Federico Valverde has adapted well at right-back, with his speed, power and stamina making him suited to the role.
Carvajal on Mbappé and Ronaldo
Carvajal called Kylian Mbappé one of the strongest players he has seen. Recalling the recent Clásico, he said Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí had cut off and grabbed Mbappé at times, yet the forward still got past him. Mbappé’s ability to burst beyond defenders, he said, makes him exceptionally difficult to contain.
He was just as emphatic about Cristiano Ronaldo’s scoring record, saying the forward would reach 1,000 goals and deserved to. Carvajal pointed to Ronaldo’s discipline and persistence, but also recalled his impact at Madrid and in the dressing room. Before an important Champions League match, Ronaldo would tell him to put the ball wherever he could and that he’d be there. Carvajal remembers him as “a predator in the box.”
For Carvajal, the mix of those memories and the supporters’ gratitude gives his Madrid farewell its weight. The honours remain part of the story; what stays closest is the sense that fans saw how much he gave.