Carvajal to leave Real Madrid after 23 years

Breaking news from the world of sport: Carvajal to leave Real Madrid after 23 yearsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Carvajal is the second-most decorated player in Real Madrid history, winning one trophy fewer than Luka ModricByElizabeth ConwaySpanish football reporterPublished17 minutes agoByAlex BrothertonBBC Sport journalistReal Madrid captain Dani Carvajal will leave the club at the end of this season after two spells at the Santiago Bernabeu covering 23 years. Carvajal, 34, who has made 450 appearances for Madrid, scoring 14 goals, will be out of contract when his current deal expires at the end of June. The Madrid-born right-back is a club legend and one of the most decorated players in history with 27 titles to his name.

Carvajal joined the club's academy in 2002 and made his first-team debut in 2013 following a season at Bayer Leverkusen, which prompted Madrid to activate a buy-back clause to re-sign him. He went on to lift the Champions League six times, one of only five players to do so, and is the only player to start in all six finals that he won. With Los Blancos he won La Liga on four occasions and the Copa del Rey twice, as well as six Club World Cups, five Uefa Super Cups and four Spanish Super Cups.

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He has been a mainstay of the Spanish national team since 2014, earning 51 caps while helping Spain win the Nations League in 2023 and the 2024 European Championship. Vinicius Jr scores Real Madrid winner at Sevilla Arbeloa would be happy if Mourinho returns to Real Published2 days agoAn iron fist joining a broken team: Inside Mourinho's Real return Published4 days agoCarvajal was included in the FIFPro 2024 World XI, won The Best Fifa Men's World XI award in 2024, and was named the best player of the 2024 Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, in which he scored the opening goal. The defender has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, suffering a cruciate ligament tear in October 2024 and then another serious knee injury a year later.

Injury and the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer have limited him to 892 minutes in La Liga this season. "Dani Carvajal is a legend and a symbol of Real Madrid and its academy," Madrid club president Florentino Perez said. , external"Carvajal has always exemplified the values of Real Madrid.

This is and will always be his home. "Madrid, who will finish the season trophyless for the second year in a row, will pay tribute to Carvajal during their final La Liga match of the season against Athletic Club at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, 23 May (20:00 BST). Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, After 36 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, Dani Carvajal made his first-team debut for Real Madrid during the 2013-14 seasonCarvajal exit signals the end of an eraDani Carvajal's departure from Real Madrid will be an emotional one for supporters, even if it does not come as a complete surprise.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.