Dani Carvajal has been unveiled as Getafe’s latest signing.
The former Real Madrid right-back and captain explained what convinced him to join José Bordalás’ project. Throughout the summer, he received offers to move to MLS or even join a Saudi Arabian club.
Wearing the number 14 shirt and joining a new club after four months without a team, Dani Carvajal looked delighted at the press conference unveiling him as a Getafe player. The former Real Madrid right-back discussed a range of topics with the media, explaining why he had chosen to join the club.
It was not an easy summer for Dani Carvajal. For weeks, there was speculation that the former Real Madrid right-back would move to MLS or Saudi Arabia. However, no agreement was finalized with any of the clubs that had approached his representatives about a potential move. When the opportunity to join Getafe emerged, he says he did not hesitate for a second.
“I’m very happy to be here today. I want to thank the president for the offer. In the end, the excitement was mutual, which is why we are here today with me as a Getafe player. When my contract with Real Madrid ended, I felt I needed a change of scenery and wanted to move to an exotic country, but the right conditions weren’t there. As the summer progressed...” Carvajal began during his press conference.
The opportunity to continue competing at the highest level and playing in one of the world’s best leagues was a crucial factor.
Carvajal’s departure from Real Madrid did not come at an easy time. The lack of collective trophies and the serious knee injury he suffered just months after being named MVP of the 2024 Champions League final accelerated his exit from the Santiago Bernabéu. Dani needed to rediscover the energetic player who had impressed football fans around the world in recent seasons.
“Anyone who knows me well knows that my life is football. I’m passionate about this sport, and what drives me is the sporting side of things and competing. Especially after these years of injuries, I wanted the consistent playing time I hadn’t been getting and the chance to prove myself again,” the defender explained about his decision to join Getafe for this new chapter of his career.
Family and personal circumstances also played a role. Moving to the United States would have meant changing his life in every respect. Joining a Saudi Arabian club would have meant starting a new life far from the Western culture that has shaped his entire career. Getafe offered Dani Carvajal not only the opportunity to compete but also the chance for his family to remain comfortable in a city where they have lived since the summer of 2013.
“When Getafe came along, they met all the requirements my family and I had. The release clause reports aren’t true. I’ll be here for the entire season, and we don’t have the option to leave in January unless someone pays the €50 million release clause,” Carvajal explained to the journalists in attendance, laughing.
The player hopes José Bordalás will call him up for Monday’s match against Rayo Vallecano at the Coliseum. It will be the first game in which Carvajal is officially cleared by LaLiga to play for Getafe.
In a season where the UEFA Conference League is crucial to the club’s ambitions, having the experience of a player like the former Real Madrid right-back is a gift in every respect for the team from the outskirts of the Spanish capital.
