Welcome back, Dani!
Real Madrid announced earlier today that the club has utilized its buyback option for Daniel Carvajal, for €6.5 million. Carvajal, who was sold to Bayer Leverkusen last summer for €5 million, enjoyed a very successful season in the Bundesliga. The 21 year old defender made 32 appearances for the German club, scoring one goal and providing seven assists. Within just a week of his debut for Bayer Leverkusen, Carvajal was voted into the league's Team of the Week. At the end of the season, the youngster came in third behind Philip Lahm and Atsuto Uchida as the league's best right-back in a league-wide fan poll.
Dani is a Real Madrid youth product who joined the club at ten years old. He played up through the ranks and helped captain Castilla to promotion in 2012. There are pics of this and they are adorbs.
(Left: Club legends Di Stefano and Butragueño look on as little baby Dani puts a shirt in the Valdebebas 'cornerstone.' Right: Adult Dani, front, shows us that Castilla celebrations are 1000000% more awesome than first-team celebrations.)
REACTIONS FROM BAYER LEVERKUSEN
"We’re very sad that Daniel couldn’t stay at the club," explained Bayer 04 sporting director Rudi Völler. "But it was clear to us from the start that Madrid would come to recognize his ability sooner or later. He’s been so impressive this season that Real’s decision came as no surprise for us.”
“Daniel Carvajal did really well on and off the pitch from day one and he’s made a huge impression. As much as we will miss him, we are happy that he’ll be able to fulfill his childhood dream of playing for Real Madrid’s first team. Daniel played in all the club’s youth teams and he is a madridista through and through. We wish him all the best for his future in professional football,” said Bayer 04 managing director Wolfgang Holzhäuser.
DANI, ON TWITTER
"Today is one the the happiest days of my life, I return home to defend the crest that runs through my veins. I thank Bayer04 for everything that they've given me, and I thank all the madridistas for their support during the year. Now to bring home the European U-21. !!!HALA MADRID!!!!" [ twitter] (P.S. There should be cuteness coming from Alex and Morata soon since those two plus Dani are like the Three Musketeers, srsly.)
Video of his goal and assists last season:
Click to view[OFFICIAL SOURCE]