Dani Carvajal: Real Madrid captain confirms club departure as Florentino Perez pays tribute - ‘One of the greatest legends’

The club's captain has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell with Los Blancos, including six UEFA Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles.

He will now leave Real after first joining as a youth player in 2002, and the club plan a tribute to the full-back in the final game of the season against Athletic Club on Saturday.

Carvajal, 34, progressed through the club's academy before joining Bayer Leverkusen for a season, before returning to the Bernabeu in 2013.

His gargantuan haul of 27 trophies is one fewer than club record holder Luka Modric, while he has also tasted success at international level with Spain after being part of the squad which won the 2023 UEFA Nations League and Euro 2024.

His recent game time has been hampered by injuries. He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in October 2024, and was sidelined with another long-term knee problem the following year.

The defender has made a total of 450 appearances for the club across all competitions, scoring 14 goals and registering 65 assists.

He has featured 22 times this campaign, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 win away at Sevilla on Sunday.

A club statement read: "Real Madrid and our captain Dani Carvajal have agreed to bring an end to a wonderful chapter as a player of our club at the conclusion of the current season.

"Real Madrid wishes to express its gratitude and affection to one of the greatest legends of our club and world football.

"Carvajal is one of the five players in football history to have won six European Cups, and has been part of a team that has experienced one of the brightest periods in our history.

"Real Madrid wishes Dani Carvajal and his family all the best in this new chapter of his life. The Santiago Bernabeu stadium will pay tribute to him this Saturday, during the final LaLiga match our team will play."

Club president Florentino Perez also paid his own tribute to the full-back in the statement.

He added: ”Dani Carvajal is a legend and a symbol of Real Madrid and its academy. His image, alongside our beloved and remembered Alfredo Di Stefano, laying the first stone of Ciudad Real Madrid will forever remain in the hearts of all Madridistas, and in the history of our club.

"Carvajal has always exemplified the values of Real Madrid. This is and will always be his home.”

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