Dani Carvajal has already had a phenomenal 12 months, having won the Champions League, La Liga and the Spanish Supercup with Real Madrid during the recent 2023-24 season. He is set for more success with Spain this summer as La Roja go in search of a fourth European Championship title.
Despite his success, and his high level of performance last season, Carvajal is not considered to be close to the race to win the Ballon d'Or 2024, with his teammates Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham currently seen as the clear favorites. However, if Spain wins Euro 2024, he believes he could have an outside chance, as he said AS Diary.
“I don't even think about it. It's true that I had a good year, even offensively, with the goal in the final of the Champions League… If I did well in the European Championship, and if we won, I can be on the candidate list. I wouldn't be crazy.
“Vinicius and Bellingham had a great year, Mbappe will be a candidate if France wins the European Championship. I'm not thinking about it. What I'm thinking about is going as far as possible in the Euros and, if we can, be in the final in Berlin”.
On Mbappe, Carvajal expressed his belief that the 25-year-old, whose long-awaited move to Real Madrid was confirmed earlier this month, can take Carlo Ancelotti to another level.
“A player of his stature will give us a lot; And I think that wearing our shirt, and with him being surrounded by very good players, will again make us candidates for everything. I hope this will be the case, and we will continue to collect titles” .
Finally, Carvajal spoke about the imminent departure of Joselu Mato, who decided to leave Real Madrid in favor of a new adventure in Qatar. The two veterans are incredibly close, and Carvajal admitted he understands his friend's decision not to stay at Real Madrid.
“Joselu is my family. He is someone very special. It makes me sad because we were together all day and we made plans. The children play, holidays, we go to train together, on trips… But I also understand his situation. In the end, life has rewarded him for the work he has done throughout his career Real Madrid. He won the League and the Champions League while he was important… I understand his position. Mbappe is coming, Endrick will also be in attack, and he might have a lower level of participation. And he gets an offer that he doesn't reject, so that's understandable.”
Image via Dan Mullan/Getty Images
