Carvajal: “I hope we can celebrate our second league title at the Di Stéfano” | OneFootball

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Real Madrid

·12 May 2021

Carvajal: “I hope we can celebrate our second league title at the Di Stéfano”

Article image:Carvajal: “I hope we can celebrate our second league title at the Di Stéfano”

On the 17th anniversary of the first stone being laid at Real Madrid City, Dani Carvajal, one of the participants on the day, recalled his experience alongside Alfredo Di Stéfano. On Realmadrid TV's Real Madrid Conecta program, the madridista remembered: “At the time, I wasn't aware of the impact of it all, nor of the fact I was right next to Don Alfredo. I realise the value of it all more and more as the years go by, it's a unique moment I'll carry with me forever. I often speak about it with the president, Florentino Pérez. There's a photo in the academy residence and it's a lovely memory”.

“All of the captains of the youth teams were called to the event. When I arrived they told me I'd have to go out and put the shirt in as representative of the academy so I was really nervous. I remember my mum gave me a camera and told me to make the most of it because I might not ever get an experience like it again".


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Real Madrid City “It's unbelievable. For the academy, the first team... It's just spectacular. The media, the access, security, gardens, pitches, the grounds people, everyone who works here, it's incredible. Any player who has come to see it or has enjoyed playing here has been amazed".

Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano “I hope we can toast the stadium that bears his name with our second consecutive LaLiga title this year. We got the chance to celebrate the title win there last year and I hope we can do the same again. For me, Alfredo Di Stéfano is one of the best stadiums around. I've celebrated a promotion to the Segunda División and a LaLiga title there, not to mention other matches and special moments". “I'd like to send the best of luck and all my strength to Castilla. I experienced a similar thing. I hope they enjoy it and go out and give it their all. They're a great team and even if lots of their players come up to play for us, the youth players are giving a great account of themselves".

Making it to the first team “The guys who come up through the ranks have been here for years, they know the club and can bring something unique to the first-team dressing room. I think it's important to have academy graduates in the first-team squads because they have an edge that's hard to replicate".

Zidane “He's a very complete coach and beyond the trophies he's won, with three consecutive Champions Leagues and LaLiga in the midst of the pandemic, it's amazing the respect he commands in the dressing room. When Zidane speaks, all 5 senses are focused on what he has to say. He's been here as a player, as Castilla coach and now he's with the first team, he knows more than anyone what this badge and this club means”.

Setting an example “It's a responsibility and incredibly flattering to serve as something for these guys in the academy to look up to and whenever I get the chance to speak to them, I make them see it's not impossible and that the dream of making the first team can come true".

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