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Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal has said the potential arrival of Kylian Mbappé at the club won’t lead to “jealousy” or other problems in the dressing room.
Mbappé is expected to join Madrid when his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires this summer, with ESPN reporting last month that the LaLiga giants are hopeful of finalising an agreement with the France international soon.
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The World Cup winner would join a forward line that already features Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo Goes and Joselu, which has fired Madrid to the top of the LaLiga table and into the Champions League quarterfinals.
“It seems like it’s a possibility that he could come at the end of the season,” Carvajal told COPE radio on Tuesday.
“The best players have to play for Madrid, and he’s one of the best.
“It would be good for LaLiga, for [Spanish] football. If great players come to our league — to our team, even better — but [Robert] Lewandowski went to Barcelona, and he’s a top player. It makes our league grow, our football is better and that’s good for everyone.”
Carvajal said Madrid’s experienced players — such as himself, Nacho Fernandez, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos — are responsible for maintaining dressing room harmony and passing on the club’s ethos to new arrivals.
“Jealousy, no,” Carvajal said when asked if Mbappé’s signing could spark a negative reaction from some teammates.
“It’s down to those people who’ve been at the club longer to mak sure that everyone pulls in the same direction in the dressing room.
“When somebody gets a bit out of line, you grab them by the ear and put them back on track. That’s what the veterans have to do in a group. And the youngsters we’ve got now are very professional. [Eduardo] Camavinga, [Aurélien] Tchouaméni, Vini, Rodrygo, they’re great lads.”
Spain international Carvajal was also asked about the targeting of Vinícius by opposition fans, after Madrid filed a complaint over chants of “Vinicius, die” from a section of the crowd during their 4-2 win at Osasuna on Saturday.
“We could hear what they were chanting. It’s very serious,” Carvajal said.
“It’s a shame that people tarnish football with these chants, discriminating against some players. I think [the fans responsible] shouldn’t be allowed back into stadiums.”