This week, Dani Carvajal begins his quest to become the most decorated player in the 61-year history of the European Cup and UEFA Champions League.
A Madrid native known for his warrior-like tenacity, Carvajal was the promising youth player chosen to lay the first brick at the club’s Valdebebas training complex 21 years ago. Today, he is tied with club legends Paco Gento and Luka Modrić as one of only three men to have lifted the iconic trophy six times. However, only Carvajal and Gento have started in all six of their victorious finals—a monumental achievement in itself.
After scoring and being named man of the match in last season’s final against Borussia Dortmund, Carvajal expressed his ambition. “To win my sixth Champions League is unimaginable,” he said. “This represents the feeling of winning. There’s nothing more important you can win with your club.”
Should he lift the trophy again in Budapest next May, Carvajal would stand alone at the pinnacle of European club football. His journey toward a record seventh title begins Tuesday against Marseille, but this season presents a new internal challenge: competition from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Real Madrid’s pursuit of the England international was reportedly solidified after witnessing his ingenuity firsthand, particularly during Liverpool’s stunning Champions League semi-final comeback against Barcelona six years ago. Alexander-Arnold has played in three finals himself, winning one but losing two to his current employers. Those defeats, however, were formative.
“We took lessons from that Madrid game,” Alexander-Arnold recalled from the 2018 final in Kyiv. “We’d seen how they went about winning; they knew how to. Luka Modrić, Toni Kroos, and Isco were just toying with us. They knew exactly what it took to win.”
Despite Madrid signing him for a reported €10 million when he was just weeks away from being a free agent, Alexander-Arnold’s integration has been gradual. He has completed a full 90 minutes just twice in nine appearances and was a late substitute in Saturday’s match at Real Sociedad, even as Carvajal continues his return to full fitness from a knee injury.
Carvajal, however, embraces the rivalry. “I always hit my best form when I have tough competition,” he told El Larguero. “Trent’s a great lad who’s fitted in well. We have different qualities, which must be a nice problem for the coach. When you don’t play, the medicine is to arrive first at training, give extra, and be the best every morning.”
The 33-year-old veteran understands the modern demands of squad rotation under manager Xabi Alonso and maintains a team-first perspective.
“The coach wants to keep at least 17 players on rotation so that we’re all fresh,” Carvajal explained. “Bringing someone on for the last 30 minutes can be crucial. It’s really important that nobody begins to believe he’s indispensable. If people react correctly, then the team’s level goes up.”
As Real Madrid begins its European campaign, the battle for the continent’s top prize is mirrored by a compelling internal duel for supremacy at right-back.
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