Latest news with #DaniCarvajal
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Real Madrid summer signing set for a starting role ahead of club captain
Real Madrid roped in Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool back in June, even paying a small compensation fee to Liverpool instead of waiting for his contract to expire so that he can play at the FIFA Club World Cup. Now, with Dani Carvajal having recovered from his ACL injury and back to full fitness, Real Madrid have a competition brewing in the right-back position heading into the new season. Trent to start, Carvajal will compete Now, according to AS, Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to start the season in the starting XI for Real Madrid under manager Xabi Alonso. But how the situation will evolve over the coming months remains uncertain as Dani Carvajal is ready to challenge for his place. The coaching staff has accepted that rotations will be necessary, but eventually, one will play more. At present, no one inside the club dares to predict who will rack up more minutes over the season. Dani Carvajal has recovered from his ACL injury. (Photo by) In the short term, Trent appears to have the edge, but one can never count against Carvajal's experience, quality, and leadership. After all, before his injury, the Real Madrid captain was performing at an elite level. The two players offer contrasting profiles. Carvajal is clearly the stronger defender, with better positioning and one-on-one ability in attack. Yet the coaching staff greatly appreciate the technical qualities that Trent brings to transitions. In Alonso's system, full-backs are expected to function like midfielders – a role that suits Trent more naturally than Carvajal. His contribution to build-up play is highly valued. So, heading into the new season, Trent is set to feature as the starting right-back in Alonso's team, but Carvajal will be pushing hard to reclaim his spot.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The costly pattern of Real Madrid re-signing former players has now exceeded €110 million
Real Madrid's latest signing, Alvaro Carreras, continues a familiar trend at the club—bringing back former academy talents who left to grow elsewhere, only to return as more experienced players. For Carreras, Real Madrid paid a hefty €50 million, making him the most expensive academy product to ever be re-signed by the club. Carreras, who rose through the ranks at Valdebebas, has made a name for himself at Benfica, becoming one of the standout left-backs in Europe. His return marks the ninth time since 2000 that Real Madrid have bought back a player who originally developed in their youth system. It is a long-standing strategy in Madrid's transfer policy, though it has brought mixed results over the years, and with each case, the cost continues to rise. A History of buying back homegrown stars Real Madrid's first high-profile buyback came in 2009 when they re-signed Alvaro Arbeloa from Liverpool for €4 million. Arbeloa had previously left for Deportivo in 2006 due to limited chances in the first team, but after proving himself in the Premier League, Madrid brought him home. In 2011, Jose Callejon followed a similar path. After leaving for Espanyol in 2008 for €1.2 million, he impressed in La Liga, prompting Madrid to buy him back for €5 million in 2011. Dani Carvajal spent a successful season at Bayer Leverkusen. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images) Perhaps one of the most successful cases was Dani Carvajal. In 2012, Madrid sold him to Bayer Leverkusen for €5 million, but included a buyback clause. After just one outstanding season in Germany, they exercised the clause for €6.5 million. In 2015, Lucas Vazquez returned after a year at Espanyol, where Madrid paid €1 million to bring him back after initially allowing a loan with an option to buy. Alvaro Morata also fits the pattern. Sold to Juventus in 2014 for €20 million, Morata returned in 2016 for €30 million after shining in Serie A. Mariano Diaz was sold to Lyon in 2017 for €8 million but re-signed a year later for €21.5 million, following a successful season in France. Fran Garcia, another left-back, moved to Rayo Vallecano in 2020 for €2 million. Madrid bought him back for €5 million after a few strong seasons. Finally, Joselu arrived on loan from Espanyol in 2023 for just €500,000. His goals in the Champions League semi-final helped Madrid lift the trophy. The club made the deal permanent for €1.5 million in 2024, before allowing him to move to Qatar for the same fee, helping him secure a better contract—a gesture appreciated by the player.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Real Madrid veteran pens emotional farewell message to Lucas Vazquez – ‘More than just a teammate'
In a long message last night, Lucas Vazquez confirmed his departure from Real Madrid which, while not official to that point, was always an open secret. The 34-year-old officially bid goodbye to the club earlier today in a farewell ceremony at the Sports City, in the presence of his family, teammates, and club officials. The club captain and academy graduate played his final game for the club against PSG where he came off the bench for the final eight minutes. The result did not go Los Blancos' way but it was an emotional night for the right-back regardless. Over the years, Vazquez served as an able backup right-back and did well to help the team whenever called upon. As a graduate of La Fabrica, he remains one of the few players in recent years to make it into the first-team and sustain until the fag end of his career. Carvajal's parting message Taking to his Instagram earlier today, Real Madrid veteran and Vazquez's direct competitor Dani Carvajal bid an emotional farewell to the departing captain with a message that truly captured the special bond the duo shared with each other. 'He's more than just a teammate. The last teammate of those three Champions in a row, of a stage that marked our lives and the history of Real Madrid, is gone,' started Carvajal. 'Over all these years we have shared much more than trainings and games. We've had magical nights, difficult moments, laughter, trips, locker room chats… things that only those of us inside truly understand.' Praising the Spaniard, Carvajal added: 'The way you compete, your professionalism, the way you are always, through good and bad, says a lot about you. 'Because a team is made when they all go together, and you've always wanted to be added. Always. And that, inside the locker room, is valued more than is sometimes said.' Concluding, the Real Madrid captain stated: 'It's been many years together, and it's been an honor to share so much with you, Lucas. As a teammate and as a friend. 'I wish you all the luck in the world in whatever comes next. And most of all, thank you Lucas Vazquez.' Both Carvajal and Vazquez played at right-back for Real Madrid but the former was always seen to be the technically superior of the two Spaniards. Vazquez, thus, spent most of his time at Real Madrid as a direct backup to Carvajal. Last season, however, Carvajal suffered a gruesome knee injury that required surgery and was thus ruled out for the entire season. He only made his return in the FIFA Club World Cup and it was Vazquez who covered the department through last season. Now, however, the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold and the return of Carvajal from injury left Vazquez with little to no room to earn minutes and the player thus saw it right to part ways with the club of his dreams immediately.
Japan Today
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
FIFA says it has an agreement with soccer players' unions for minimum rest standards
Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal (2) and Lucas Vazquez (17) compete against Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in (19) for control of the ball during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between PSG and Real Madrid in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) soccer By SAMUEL PETREQUIN FIFA says players' representatives and the sport's governing body have reached a consensus on the need for a period of rest of 72 hours between matches, and agreed that players should enjoy a minimum of 21 days of holidays at the end of each season. The discussions took place on the eve of the Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea. The tournament was held during the European offseason and has faced criticism from unions, as an increased focus on player welfare has been leading to calls for mandatory rest periods and a greater emphasis on player safety during matches. Days before the start of the month-long Club World Cup, soccer chiefs faced renewed calls to safeguard players over growing fears of injuries and burnout. Last month, France's union of professional soccer players launched a scathing attack on the competition, saying it is 'urgent to stop this massacre' amid ongoing concerns about extreme player workloads. FIFA president Gianni Infantino and other officials from soccer's governing body met with representatives of players' unions from around the world in New York. FIFA hailed the discussions as 'progressive,' adding that players' health is a 'top priority.' 'There is a consensus that there must be at least 72 hours of rest between matches, and that players should have a rest period / holiday of at least 21 days at the end of each season,' FIFA said. 'This period should be managed individually by each club and the respective players also depending on their match calendars and taking into account applicable collective agreements.' Enforcing a 72-hour period strictly could mean big adjustments to some game schedules and TV deals. FIFA didn't indicate how it would work in practice. European teams playing in the Europa League late Thursday evening routinely play domestic league games on the following Sunday. With a strict 72-hour break, they might have to wait until Monday to play again. That would be a major headache for the German Bundesliga. It abolished Monday evening games in 2021 after years of protests by fans who wanted easier-to-attend weekend kickoffs. When it introduced the unpopular Monday kickoffs four season earlier, the German league argued it would mean more rest for Europa League teams. The new Bundesliga TV deal starting next season doesn't include any Monday games, either. FIFA added that a rest day per week should also be allowed and that travel demands as well as climate conditions will also factor into future competition planning. The Club World Cup involving 32 of the world's top teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar. The tournament should be played every four years, sandwiched in between the men's World Cup, European Championship and Copa America. It went ahead against the backdrop of legal challenges in Europe, strike threats and repeated concerns over players' mental and physical welfare due to too many games. James Ellingworth in Düsseldorf, Germany, contributed to this story. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
FIFA says it has an agreement with soccer players' unions for minimum rest standards
From left, Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, Dani Carvajal, Thibaut Courtois and Aurelien Tchouameni react after a goal by Paris Saint-Germain during the second half of a Club World Cup semifinal soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola (29) makes a pass to the front of the net past Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin (13) during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between PSG and Real Madrid in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks to the media at a welcoming event for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament, April 10, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, file) Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal (2) and Lucas Vazquez (17) compete against Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in (19) for control of the ball during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between PSG and Real Madrid in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal (2) and Lucas Vazquez (17) compete against Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in (19) for control of the ball during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between PSG and Real Madrid in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) From left, Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, Dani Carvajal, Thibaut Courtois and Aurelien Tchouameni react after a goal by Paris Saint-Germain during the second half of a Club World Cup semifinal soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola (29) makes a pass to the front of the net past Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin (13) during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between PSG and Real Madrid in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks to the media at a welcoming event for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament, April 10, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, file) Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal (2) and Lucas Vazquez (17) compete against Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in (19) for control of the ball during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between PSG and Real Madrid in East Rutherford, N.J., Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) FIFA says players' representatives and the sport's governing body have reached a consensus on the need for a period of rest of 72 hours between matches, and agreed that players should enjoy a minimum of 21 days of holidays at the end of each season. The discussions took place on the eve of the Club World Cup final between PSG and Chelsea. The tournament was held during the European offseason and has faced criticism from unions, as an increased focus on player welfare has been leading to calls for mandatory rest periods and a greater emphasis on player safety during matches. Advertisement Days before the start of the month-long Club World Cup, soccer chiefs faced renewed calls to safeguard players over growing fears of injuries and burnout. Last month, France's union of professional soccer players launched a scathing attack on the competition, saying it is 'urgent to stop this massacre' amid ongoing concerns about extreme player workloads. FIFA president Gianni Infantino and other officials from soccer's governing body met with representatives of players' unions from around the world in New York. FIFA hailed the discussions as 'progressive,' adding that players' health is a 'top priority.' 'There is a consensus that there must be at least 72 hours of rest between matches, and that players should have a rest period / holiday of at least 21 days at the end of each season,' FIFA said. 'This period should be managed individually by each club and the respective players also depending on their match calendars and taking into account applicable collective agreements.' Enforcing a 72-hour period strictly could mean big adjustments to some game schedules and TV deals. FIFA didn't indicate how it would work in practice. European teams playing in the Europa League late Thursday evening routinely play domestic league games on the following Sunday. With a strict 72-hour break, they might have to wait until Monday to play again. Advertisement That would be a major headache for the German Bundesliga. It abolished Monday evening games in 2021 after years of protests by fans who wanted easier-to-attend weekend kickoffs. When it introduced the unpopular Monday kickoffs four season earlier, the German league argued it would mean more rest for Europa League teams. The new Bundesliga TV deal starting next season doesn't include any Monday games, either. FIFA added that a rest day per week should also be allowed and that travel demands as well as climate conditions will also factor into future competition planning. The Club World Cup involving 32 of the world's top teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar. The tournament should be played every four years, sandwiched in between the men's World Cup, European Championship and Copa America. It went ahead against the backdrop of legal challenges in Europe, strike threats and repeated concerns over players' mental and physical welfare due to too many games. ___ James Ellingworth in Düsseldorf, Germany, contributed to this story.
