Dani Carvajal was born in Leganés and before he had even started puberty, he was already wearing the Real Madrid jersey. He grew up idolizing the Galácticos during the era of the Zidanes and Pavones and was the boy chosen to lay the first stone of the Valdebebas training city alongside Alfredo Di Stéfano, as if the Saeta had already baptized him that day, foretelling a glorious future. “A child’s dream, a legend’s triumph,” read a beautiful banner with that photograph. More than two decades later and six Champions won, the captain of one of the best eras in the history of the white club played his last match at the Bernabéu. A protagonist from start to finish on a memorable night for his memory, with electoral drums and inhospitable football-wise.
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In the times of crisis that Valdebebas is experiencing, or rather the absence of youth players in the first team, Carvajal’s departure is that of the last white hero, the one who chased after other legends as he successfully pursued wingers so many times. Into the same bag as Casillas, Raúl, Camacho, or the famous Quinta del Buitre goes the man with six Champions, because in Carvajal’s play there was always a compendium of the virtues of Madrid’s history.
A hug and a few words from Florentino upon the arrival of the bus opened the night for the captain. Emotional, embracing his teammates, he was the first protagonist of the decompression match against an Athletic with their guard down (4-2). A cross from the right was controlled by Gonzalo, also trained at Valdebebas, who controlled it with his left and finished with his right in a combination of the skills a forward must have. Without a doubt, Gonzalo is the youth player with the most career. Perhaps, if luck and sporting decisions accompany him, Carvajal passed the baton to him in the form of a pass.
Not everything was joy in a Bernabéu that cannot forget the quarrels of a self-destructive season that will end in presidential elections. And one of the routines of this last stretch was whistling at Mbappé. The Frenchman was off target, not delivering until the second half, so the Bernabéu’s soundtrack did not change. Bellingham, on the other hand, made it 2-0 with a powerful shot. Guruceta, with a finish in the area, brought it to 2-1 at halftime in this fight with plasticine gloves.
Mbappé took five minutes to make it 3-1 with a powerful shot from the edge of the area. And he received applause from a hungry Bernabéu. The match proceeded leisurely until Alaba left the field and was honored. The Austrian also leaves the club with two Champions. And, after the 80th minute, the great moment arrived.
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Carvajal was substituted. All the players from both teams formed a guard of honor. Time stopped for the captain, who condensed his moments in every hug, including with Álvaro Arbeloa (cheered and whistled at the same time, a sign of division) on the bench and with his family. Tears and emotion after 24 years, 27 titles, and 451 official matches.
Near the 90th minute, against an Athletic led by Ernesto Valverde who is also saying goodbye, Brahim made it 4-1 and Iñaki Williams, immediately after, made it 4-2. It was the finishing touch to an unexpected end of the year in every sense. Except for the farewell of a Carvajal who has lived a nightmare, also without a World Cup, although the nearly full Bernabéu paid him a tribute worthy of his career after an emotional video that reviewed his career and that not only made him cry but also Mastantuono, for example.
“This is not an easy moment, I am very emotional because of this great farewell. I want to thank Florentino (applause at the Bernabéu). Thanks to my teammates. These were not two easy seasons, you have to get up, I’m sure we will win again. We end a wonderful era, four Champions in five years, that Tenth. Cristiano, Zidane, Ramos… A round of applause for them, they made us great,” said an emotional Carvajal from the center of the field, who continued with messages of gratitude to his family. “I lived two very difficult years, I experienced the bitter side, but they made my sad days full of light, I love you very much,” he reflected. “There are player careers defined by successes, others by how you connect with people, I hope you talk about how I gave everything for this jersey.”
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