Dani Carvajal bids emotional farewell to Real Madrid fans: ‘It’s not the club of my life, it’s my life” | OneFootball

Real Madrid signed off their 2025/26 season with a 4-2 victory over Athletic Club at the Bernabeu, finishing second in La Liga behind Barcelona with 86 points.

But the result was secondary to the occasion, as it was Dani Carvajal’s last match as a Real Madrid player.

The right-back, who joined the club’s academy as a child and went on to captain the side, will leave when his contract expires this summer after 23 years associated with the club.

A career-threatening knee injury last season made his farewell all the more emotional, and Carvajal addressed the crowd on the pitch.

Carvajal addresses the fans

Speaking on the pitch to the Madridistas, Carvajal thanked those who had stood by him through the darkest moment of his career.

“Good evening, Madridistas. It’s not an easy time for me to speak because I’m so excited about this great farewell. First of all, I would like to thank our president, Don Florentino.

It was an emotional night for Dani Carvajal. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

He was the one who brought me back from Germany and we have won many Champions League together, but if I have to take one thing away from me it is that not even 24 hours after my knee injury he did not hesitate to renew my contract,” he said.

He then turned to his teammates, acknowledging two difficult seasons while expressing his belief in the club’s ability to rise again.

“I wanted to thank my teammates. We haven’t had two easy seasons, but I’m sure we’ll win again. This is Real Madrid, and we have to get back up, as our history says.”

He closed his pitch-side address with a tribute to the golden era he was privileged to be part of.

“I cannot help but remember this golden age that we have lived. We put an end to a wonderful era — four Champions League in five years, that Decima, three in a row, Cristiano, Ramos, Ancelotti, Zidane.

“Countless names that have overlooked this shield. They made us great and took us to the top.”

Carvajal says he enjoyed ‘like a child’

Speaking to RMTV, Carvajal struggled to put into words what the evening had meant to him.

“It’s very difficult to describe. You get excited without knowing how. Yesterday seeing the training ground, today seeing the tifo they have done for me, the ovations… How can I not get excited,” he said.

Carvajal leaves as Real Madrid legend. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“I close a wonderful stage, an undreamable career. I only have words of gratitude to the club and the fans.

“Thank you, I have enjoyed like a child, from the first day to the last. I hope it is reciprocal. I hope to be able to return to what is my home, in a different way, but helping as always,” he added.

Asked to describe what his time at Madrid had meant to him, he did not hold back.

“If when I was a child they told me that I was going to have this career, I would not have imagined it. It has been wonderful, spectacular from the first day to the last.

“Triumphs, difficult moments to mature, sharing a dressing room with wonderful people… It’s the best club in the world,” he said.

“I’ve always tried to be nice to everyone, to my anger if I missed or missed a pass. But I hope everyone takes away a good memory of Dani Carvajal. See you in the future.”

On what Real Madrid means to him personally, he needed only one sentence to say everything.

“It’s not that it’s the club of my life, it’s that it’s my life. I was born a Madridista, I’ve been here for 23 years, I’ve gone through all the categories, I’ve won everything that can be won, I’ve become captain… I can’t ask for more. I leave very happy and very full.”

Source: Diario AS