Real Madrid have had a lot of free agent departures in the last few years, but it only happens when they have extracted every last bit of value they can from them on the pitch.
It happened with Luka Modric, it happened with Karim Benzema, and now, it has happened with Dani Carvajal.
After more than two decades at the club, Carvajal will now be leaving for a new home for the first time in his career.
However, there is a way Carvajal actually performs better than he would at Real Madrid this season at his new club - if it is Inter.
Real Madrid fans mustn't be surprised if Dani Carvajal gets better after leaving
The defender has been linked with the Serie A champions in the last few days, and even though everyone thought he would go to Saudi Arabia or the MLS so that he does not face Real Madrid, it is a move that may happen.
Carvajal is still a quality player, and there is no denying that, even after his heartbreaking ACL injury from a few months ago.
And, here is the weird thing about Real Madrid players joining Serie A clubs - they usually perform even better than they did in their last season with Los Blancos.
Look at Luka Modric. He was still a good player off the bench under Carlo Ancelotti in his last season at the club, but he ended up playing even better football and becoming a huge part of Milan's squad this season. He was easily their best player, and at 40 years old, that is not normal at all.
This is a different example, but Nico Paz, even though he was really good at Real Madrid and at Castilla, got progressively better at Como in his two years at the club.
That may also be down to him being young and just developing at a better-than-usual pace, but the case still stands.
Obviously, there will be bad examples of that in the past, but in the last few years, the luck for Real Madrid players has generally been pretty good.
The most recent example of Modric would also be the most important for Carvajal to think about, as it is a slightly slower pace, which may even help the Spaniard at this age.
Carvajal is still good, and Inter would need a right-back next season with the departure of Denzel Dumfries to Los Blancos earlier this week, and it remains to be seen if the Italian club actually goes for him.
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