Dani Carvajal has already had a phenomenal 12 months, having won the Champions League, La Liga and Spanish Super Cup with Real Madrid during the recent 2023-24 season. He’s targeting further 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 anywhere near the race to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or, with teammates Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham currently seen as the clear favourites. However, if Spain win Euro 2024, he believes that he could have an outside chance, as he told Diario AS.

“I don’t even think about it. It’s true that I’ve had a great year, also offensively, with the goal in the Champions League final… If perform well at the European Championship, and if we win it, I can be on the list of candidates. It wouldn’t be crazy.

“Vinicius and Bellingham have had a great year, Mbappe will be a candidate if France wins the European Championship. I don’t think about it. What I plan is to go 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’s up to another level.

“A player of his stature is going to give us a lot; And I think that wearing our shirt, and with him being surrounded by very good players, will make us candidates for everything again. Hopefully this will be the case, and we will continue to reap titles.”

Finally, Carvajal spoke on the impending departure of Joselu Mato, who has decided to leave Real Madrid in favour of a new adventure in Qatar. The two veterans are incredibly close, and Carvajal admitted that 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 playing, holidays, we go together to train, on trips… But I also understand his situation. In the end, life has rewarded him for the work he has done all his career. He arrived at Real Madrid. He won La Liga and the Champions League whilst being important… I understand his position. Mbappe is coming, Endrick will be in attack too, and he could have a lower level of participation. And he gets an offer that is unrejectable, so it’s understandable.”

Image via Dan Mullan/Getty Images

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