Interview with Dani Carvajal: Real Madrid, Spanish right-back on Euro win, Gibraltar chant and club future

Dani Carvajal has won almost everything there is to win at the top level, but even by his standards this summer has been exceptional.

The 32-year-old right-back played a key role in Real Madrid’s run to the Champions League final and then was the improbable scorer of a 74th-minute header at Wembley to send Madrid on their way to a record 15th title against Borussia Dortmund.

Just over a month later, Carvajal lifted the European Championship after Spain beat England 2-1 in the final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. He formed an impressive partnership with Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal on the right and became a hero in his homeland after an — ahem — unorthodox foul to stop Germany’s Jamal Musiala earned him a red card in the quarter-final against the hosts.

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Here, The Athletics talks to Carvajal in an exclusive interview about everything from his European Championship win to Kylian Mbappé’s adjustment in Madrid, the Gibraltar cry that saw his international teammates Rodri and Alvaro Morata sanctioned by UEFA and whether he would play in Major League Soccer…

How do you rate the team that won the European Championship, and Lamine Yamal in particular?

“We have a great group. There is a good atmosphere and a relationship of respect and admiration that helps the group to overcome adversity in the most difficult moments.

“It seems incredible that Yamal, at his age (he turned 17 in July), is already in the elite, in a club like Barcelona and in the national team. He has adapted very well to the group. He is still a child (laughs), so you have to keep your feet on the ground — but he is a great boy.”

You caused a stir when you pulled Musiala back in the quarter-final between Spain and Germany. Tell us more about it.

“It was more of a meme than anything. I never tried to hurt Jamal, but to cut off the counterattack. He made a really good touch, caught up to me and eventually I tried to grab him — I grabbed him by the neck, but I could have grabbed him from another place.”

Carvajal’s unorthodox challenge to Musiala (Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images)

How have you prepared for the final against England and how do you see them as a team?

“We had done our analysis, we know their strengths – Jude Bellingham on the left going inside or Bukayo Saka going outside, we tried to contain them. But we played better, we tried to offer more and in the end with that goal from Mikel Oyarzabal we won the Euro.

“They are very competitive, they have very talented players and they are capable. They have reached the final of the last two Euros — that shows that they have a very good generation of young players at a high level.”

Carvajal with his European Championship winner’s medal (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

What did you think of Morata and Rodri’s Gibraltar song during the Cup ceremony in Madrid and the aftermath?

Morata and Rodri chanted “It’s Spanish, Gibraltar is Spanish” during the trophy celebrations in Madrid, referring to the British territory on the southern coast of Spain. UEFA handed them one-match bans after the Gibraltar Football Association filed a complaint with European football’s governing body, citing “extremely provocative and insulting” behaviour.

“There was a lot of talk about it, but it was never something to offend or start a conflict. Spain has always fought with England for Gibraltar, which is on the Iberian Peninsula, and it was a final against England. Before the final there was already a little echo with that chant and we won and (the chant) became a bit more of a joke. If anyone was offended, we apologize on behalf of the group, but come on, they (England) never said they were offended.”

What is your view on Madrid after the arrival of Mbappé?

“It was an important change after Toni Kroos, Nacho and Joselu left us. With the arrival of Kylian, the coach has to adapt to all the great players we have.

“In Mallorca and Las Palmas (matches that Madrid drew 1-1 last month) we lacked continuity in our game, but we will get there. The other day against Real Betis (2-0 win) the team showed good signs, we played a pretty complete match and from now on, after the international break, we will put all the pieces of the puzzle in place.”

Carvajal with Mbappe and Vinicius Junior during Madrid’s recent La Liga match against Valladolid (Diego Souto/Getty Images)

Do you think there are problems arising from having so many players who normally thrive on the left flank?

“It is clear that the three (Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior) are comfortable playing on the left — but last year I had a lot of space on the wing and that boosted my attacking game. This year I don’t think there will be any problems. When you don’t have the ball you have to be structured, but when you have the ball the coach gives us more freedom. The system is up to the coach, he is the one who decides.”

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Has Kroos’ retirement at 34 made you think about your future and whether you want to retire in Madrid?

“I have a contract until next summer. I’m not thinking about retiring at the moment. I talk about it with my family: I want to enjoy every match, every training. As the years go by, you realize that you have to value every moment more and enjoy it.

“The relationship I have with the club is very transparent, very clear. If both parties agree to continue, I hope to stay here for many years to come.”

You have been in Madrid since you were a boy. How do you assess the impact of Florentino Perez as president?

“He is the best president. He has done nothing but improve the sports complex and the stadium, he has financial solvency with the acquisitions, he is the leader and the absolute boss of the club. It is very important that no one is above the president and his work at Real Madrid is spectacular.”

Carvajal at the Spanish training camp Las Rozas on the outskirts of Madrid (Guillermo Rai/The Athletic)

You’ve been injury-free and in top form for a few years now after several problems (injuries caused him to miss Euro 2016 and Euro 2020 with Spain). What was the key to that?

(Hits his head for luck, a common gesture in Spain) “I like to train, I like to do cardio and I tried kickboxing because I like it more than running. But the truth is that I have been working on my fitness and injuries for two years now and I think I have found the key to my rest, diet and routines. It makes me a little angry that I discovered it so late, but that’s the way it is and I am proud of having overcome difficult times with injuries. When you fall and get back up, everything tastes better.”

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Would the United States approach you if you left Madrid?

“It’s a possibility. If I decide not to play for Real Madrid, I won’t be playing in Europe and the alternatives are much more limited.”

So that could be the United States, Qatar, Saudi Arabia..?

“Exactly, it would be one of those three options.”

The right-back lifts last season’s Champions League trophy during celebrations in Madrid (Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images)

You are seen as a role model for Madrid’s youth players. The ‘Via Carvajal’ (‘Carvajal route’) refers to the way young players leave before returning with a favourable buy-back clause, as you did when you left Bayer Leverkusen for a year in 2012. What do you think about that?

“It’s a huge source of pride to be a mirror for many of them. To be in the Madrid first team, you need a very high level, especially in midfield and attack — that’s why they’ve resorted to transfers for their young players with an option to buy. Via Carvajal is an alternative I came up with and it worked very well — it’s useful to develop the boys and see how they can perform at a high level.”

Are there any young players from Madrid who stand out for you?

“Nico Paz (who joined Como this summer) is a great player, Mario Martin (who left on loan at Real Valladolid) too, (defender) Jacobo Ramon, (centre-back) Joan Martinez who is injured, Yusi is doing very well at left-back. They can have a future.”

(Top photo: Getty Images; design by Eamonn Dalton)