A Real Madrid legend signs for a new club on a 90% pay cut.. a move nobody saw coming

One of Real Madrid’s symbols of the last decade is back on the pitch in a new shirt, in a move few imagined, and without even leaving the Spanish capital.

The biggest surprise was not only the name of his new club, but the salary the veteran star accepted compared with what he earned at the Bernabeu.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Spanish right-back Dani Carvajal, Real Madrid’s former captain, 34, reached an agreement on Tuesday to become a Getafe player, signing a contract until the end of the season on June 30, 2027.

Carvajal had been without a club since June 30, when his Real Madrid spell ended, a period in which he won six Champions League titles, making him one of the most decorated players in the club’s history.

The newspaper reports that he accepted a pay cut of up to 90% compared with his Real Madrid salary of almost €10 million net, and will earn around €1 million at Getafe.

Carvajal answered the call of coach Jose Bordalas, who wanted to strengthen his right flank with a player who knows the demands of the elite level, with the option of using him on the right of a back three.

The Spanish defender chose to stay close to home in Madrid and keep playing in a project where he believes he can still contribute a lot, rather than move abroad or retire.

The deal gives Getafe a rare opportunity in the free-agent market: adding a player with huge experience at the very top level as the club looks to improve its results in La Liga.