Carvajal just wanted respect

Dani Carvajal wanted nothing more than the respect every legend deserves – a conversation, a moment of attention that comes with wearing the captain’s armband. He was not demanding a starting role or special treatment, only clarity about his place in the team.

Real Madrid’s hierarchy, meanwhile, were determined to avoid the kind of situations that had pushed the locker room to its limits in recent seasons. Those in charge wanted to ensure that if victories failed to arrive, internal discord would not be the reason. That is what prompted the meeting in the freshly reupholstered gray armchair in Álvaro Arbeloa’s office – a chair there precisely for moments like this, especially when the captain is involved. The gesture was widely applauded within the club’s offices.

Xabi Alonso had struggled to connect with the squad. The issue was identified, but no solution was found. This time, the aim was to prevent that gray area from expanding into a full-blown nightmare for Madridismo. With the Carvajal situation resolved following his return to action against Real Sociedad, normality has fully returned to Valdebebas. The first of four “finals” has been cleared, and while waiting on Barcelona’s result, Real Madrid climbed back to the top of the table – something impossible without harmony in the locker room.

Arbeloa has shown an ability to adjust and bring a key figure such as the right back back into the fold. How much time Carvajal spends on the field will depend on the coach and on the captain’s form. Trent will compete alongside him for the position, with Valverde stationed in midfield and David Jiménez waiting in the wings.

Arbeloa now understands what it means to manage the locker room of a global powerhouse. His previous experience came as a player, but now he is the one tasked with resolving high-pressure situations – the kind that went unchecked in the previous era and ultimately led to his appointment as Real Madrid’s coach. He has the confidence of the club’s leadership, but lasting stability requires winning over the players – something Xabi Alonso never truly achieved, according to private admissions within the squad.

In just over a month on the Bernabéu bench, the coach has already addressed several challenges posed by both the locker room and the game itself. The academy is one thing; the first team is another entirely. Real Madrid remain alive in both LaLiga and the Champions League, and once again, the sport itself will determine where the coach, the club and its rivals stand. That includes those who send letters to referees – which, when they feel wronged, is nearly everyone. Incidentally, the recent letter from Barcelona has been met with a degree of amusement at the Bernabéu.