The past 12 months or so have been memorable for Dani Carvajal as he added three more trophies to his cabinet with Real Madrid and is now playing a leading role for Spain at the UEFA Euro 2024.
Despite having had a long career with the Spanish national team, this is the first time that the Real Madrid right-back is representing La Roja at the European Championships.
Speaking in an interview with AS, Carvajal admitted that he is very excited about playing in the Euros for the first time in his career, while also touching upon several other important topics.
Carvajal played an important role in Real Madrid’s three trophies in the season gone by. As such, there has been a section of supporters calling for the defender to win the Ballon d’Or.
Should he help Spain win the Euros, those voices could grow even stronger. As such, when asked about the possibility of winning the Golden Orb, the right-back said:
"I really don’t even think about it. It’s true that I’ve had a great year, also in attack, with the goal in the Champions League final… If I do well at the European Championship, and if we win it, I can be on the shortlist. It wouldn’t be crazy."
But Carvajal admitted that winning it would be complicated, especially with Real Madrid teammates like Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham also in contention, along with Kylian Mbappe, saying:
"That’s complicated. The most important thing is to score goals, it’s the most difficult thing. Vinicius and Bellingham have had a great year, Mbappé will be a candidate if France win the European Championship."
"I’m not even thinking about it. What I’m thinking about is going as far as possible at the European Championship and, if we can, being in the final in Berlin."
Carvajal also gave his two cents on the acquisition of Kylian Mbappe by Real Madrid, insisting that the Frenchman’s arrival would elevate the team to the next level.
"A player of his stature is going to give us a lot; and I think that by wearing our shirt, surrounded by very good players, he will make us candidates for everything again. Hopefully, that will be the case and we will continue to win titles," he said.
At the same time, though, Carvajal will bid goodbye to his close friend Joselu, who is set to sign for Qatari club Al Gharafa.
" Joselu is my family. He is someone very special. I feel sad because we were together everyday and we made plans. The children playing, holidays, going to training together, travelling…," Carvajal lamented.
However, the defender added that he understands the striker’s decision to leave, saying: "I understand his position. Mbappé is coming, Endrick in attack and he could have a lower level of participation. And he gets an offer that’s absolutely irresistible and that’s understandable."
Carvajal, at 32, is entering the final phase of his career and has a contract with Real Madrid that expires in 2025.
The defender has seen Toni Kroos retire on top at the age of 34 while he also sees Luka Modric continue in brilliant form aged 39. When asked which of the two ways he would lean, Carvajal replied:
"I’m not thinking about anything at the moment. Neither for the future at Madrid nor to leave. I enjoy the moment, now I’m here at the European Championship and I talk about it many times with my wife."
"I enjoy every training session, every match; and what has to come, will come. I try not to obsess about the future because I like to live in the present, every situation that happens in my life."
In the past few years, Real Madrid have seen some of their former captains like Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Karim Benzema, Nacho Fernandez, and leave the club, while Modric could also be done next year.
However, Carvajal, whom Real Madrid want to renew, insisted that he is not thinking about leaving and believes he has still a lot left to offer to the club.
"At the moment I’m not thinking about leaving Madrid, far from it. My subjective perception is that the day I can’t contribute what I can contribute, I’ll take a step aside," he admitted.
"But I’m very happy. I think I can give a lot to the club, to the team. And I’m more excited than ever."