Real Madrid: Dani Carvajal has set a rare benchmark at RB

Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal has become one of the greats.

With a dream first season with his boyhood club, Dani Carvajal became one of the first names in the starting lineups and was pretty much untouchable. The Real Madrid right-back was doing just fine but cometh the arrival of Zinedine Zidane, his abilities exploded.

Just when the Merengues needed a modern full-back, a 21-year-old Dani Carvajal came back to Madrid from Leverkusen just after a year with them, costing Real Madrid only €1.5 million extra (Sold for €5 million to Leverkusen, later bought back using the buy-back option for €6.5 million), becoming the second choice after Alvaro Arbeloa on the right flank, also lining up alongside Sergio Ramos, Pepe, and Marcelo.

This backline was the start of something really special for Los Blancos, with a talented 20-year-old Varane alongside Carvajal himself. In 2012, Carvajal failed to break through the first team under coach José Mourinho, but with his return to the Bernabéu in 2013, the Spanish national only had first-team football on his mind and did not take long to impress new Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.

With 45 appearances in all competitions for the club, Dani Carvajal made a name for himself in his debut season in the top flight. The Spaniard found his feet as soon as he arrived in Madrid. Within just 10 months of his arrival, the Castilla graduate already had not one but two major titles under his belt, the Copa Del Rey and the La Décima (the 10th Champions League title).

Dani Carvajal has been a part of legendary Real Madrid sides

Madrid’s No. 2 is one of the names in the squad for arguably the best Real Madrid starting XI in the club’s history. With that glorious three-peat leading to four Champions League titles in five years, two La Liga titles, one Copa Del Rey, two Spanish Supercups, three UEFA Supercups, and four Club World Cups, Carvajal has won a total of staggering 16 trophies over the course of seven seasons with Real Madrid adding further proof to the fact that Carvajal is undoubtedly one of the best full-backs in the world.

Keeping an average rating of 7.1/10 in his last four seasons for Los Blancos, per FotMob.com, the Spaniard is an immovable object on the team. With his style of play and all the aggressive tackles, he is almost solid as a rock when it comes to physical strength, not having any major injuries in his career except for the heart condition (viral pericarditis) diagnosed in 2017. Thankfully he recovered fully and the problem disappeared over time.

It’s a tough debate when it comes to naming the top five right-backs of all-time but surely Dani Carvajal is up there with the greats. While many adore and root for Carvajal and his Madridismo, some might sail for the other end. It’s no surprise that a player’s performance is solely based on his form and sometimes players struggle with it. But when it comes to the Spaniard he has a way of silencing his critics and he definitely knows how to do it.

Appearing 42 times, Carvajal scored once, assisted eight times, and got booked a total number of 13 times in all competitions for Real Madrid in the 2019-20 season. The 28-year-old is in his prime and statistically doing just what Real needs at the moment, which led to blocking the way for the young and talented Achraf Hakimi. The Madrid loanee was told by Zidane upfront that if he wishes to return he would be the second choice, which led to his 40 million move to Inter.

When comparing Dani Carvajal to the best right-backs in the world at the moment, no one comes close considering his form over the years. Even though the players in his position are top-notch, either the players are young talents and new to the game or a few late bloomers. Where on the other hand playing world-class football has been pretty much routine for the Spaniard.