- Shared
Real Madrid visit the Estadio Butarque this Wednesday evening for the first time in LaLiga history, but for Dani Carvajal this match will be a homecoming.
The right-back grew up in the suburb of the capital city and his performances with local side Leman's were impressive enough for Los Blancos' scouts to spot him and to sign him up for their 'La Fabrica' academy.
Even though he departed when he was just a kid, many in Leganes still remember the way he used to battle on the uneven pitches, which were so rough that the players had to wear knee pads.
"He is probably the best player to have passed through the club," believes Leman's president Jose Antonio Garcia.
"His tenacity, courage and desire made him different.
"He was a very competitive player and the team very rarely lost when he was in it.
"[Carvajal's success] shows that the work we do with the children is important.
"We are very proud to have contributed in making him a sportsman during the four years he was here."
Manuel Rodriguez Navascues worked with Caravajal at Leman's, before spending nine years coaching in the youth setup at Leganes, and he too recalls the right-back's early development.
"He had virtues such as speed and positioning," the coach says.
"With his pace, he used to use it to cover a lot of ground.
"For a player of his age, he was very tactical and you could see he had a chance of making it.
"In football, there have been many players with great ability in all aspects, but they haven't been able to shine when it was their moment.
"Yet he had the characteristics, as well as the possibility [of making it], as he has shown."
Carvajal did indeed make it at the highest level and, via Leverkusen, he has become a regular at Real Madrid and in the Spanish national team, yet he has not forgotten his roots and still visits Leganes often.
"He has not lost the Leganes 'feeling'," according to Navascues.
"That is important and shows what a human he is.
"His family and friends are the most important thing for him."
Although he still possesses a love for Leganes, that won't stop Carvajal from doing his best to further his current team's LaLiga ambitions when he visits on Wednesday evening.
Related tags
