In an interview with AS, Carvajal discussed his transition from the club where he made his name, his recovery from serious injuries and the challenge of returning to competitive football after more than four months without an official match.
He made his Getafe debut against Rayo Vallecano on 19 October after only three training sessions with his new team, then started as a central defender in the 4-0 defeat at Athletic Club. The change of surroundings has given the 34-year-old a fresh challenge after a difficult period.
“That love of football has been inside me since I was born. That has been the key to deciding to stay at home and sign for Getafe. I love football. The atmosphere before coming out to play at San Mamés the other day is what fulfils me and makes me feel fortunate. I wanted to feel like a player again and play for the passion of it, enjoying it as I did when I was a child.”
The defender spent the summer training individually while waiting for the right opportunity. He explained that working alone could keep him fit, but could not replicate the instincts and contact required in matches.
“You lose those sensations in possession, although you pick them up again quickly. Football is contact, putting your arm in, colliding and using your body. It is practically instinct: the ball here, the ball there. Everything is much faster than when you train alone.”
Carvajal admitted that his time away from Real Madrid has not yet erased his habits. After dropping his children at school, he sometimes finds himself almost taking the familiar route to the club’s Valdebebas training ground.
He also spoke warmly about his departure, saying the appreciation shown by supporters meant more to him than the trophies he won.
“Walking out into the street and feeling the warmth of Madrid fans thanking me for everything I have done and asking me to return in the future is what fulfils me most, more than the titles. Feeling that the fans are proud of how I have given everything is the greatest thing.”
The defender is not ready to think about retirement. He said he wants to make that decision himself, when either his body or his enthusiasm tells him the time has come. His serious injuries and lack of regular football made the prospect of continuing elsewhere especially appealing.
Carvajal also reflected on the Champions League nights at the Bernabéu that helped define his Madrid career.
“I would pay a lot of money to experience another comeback there. You cannot imagine it. The atmosphere generated in those Champions League matches is indescribable.”
Now at Getafe, his priorities are different. He wants to help the club secure its place in the division and says he is enjoying the chance to value each victory in a new way.
“It is the first time I have played for a team whose objective is to stay up, with this different kind of pressure. I want to savour and value every victory like a title. I am very comfortable here. I am very happy to feel like a footballer again and to play.”
For a player whose career has been defined by the highest expectations, Carvajal’s new chapter is about rediscovering the simple pleasure of playing. His ambition remains intact, but he is measuring success in a different way.