Getafe president Ángel Torres has dismissed reports that former Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal is joining the club, calling his previous comments a joke and stating that negotiations have completely broken down.
Torres spoke to reporters outside the Coliseum stadium on Tuesday after earlier claiming on television platform DAZN that the 34-year-old free agent had passed a medical examination and was awaiting LaLiga salary cap approval.
The Getafe executive had initially told DAZN that manager José Bordalás was seeking a winger and that Carvajal had passed all physical checks. Torres noted at the time that an agreement between the club and LaLiga regarding squad cost limits remained the final requirement to move forward.
However, when journalists gathered at the stadium expecting an update at 5:00 p.m., Torres reversed his stance. He asked reporters why the player would come to Getafe, claiming his earlier television announcement was made in jest and describing the transfer rumors as smoke with no contract signed.
Conflicting Statements and Transfer Interest
Despite the president playing down the deal to reporters, discussions between Getafe and the veteran right-back had taken place. Bordalás had given his approval for the defender to join the squad, recognizing his experience at the highest level of European football.
Carvajal, who is currently without a club after ending his spell at Real Madrid, has received lucrative offers from teams in Major League Soccer, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. However, the defender prioritizes remaining in Spain and competing in a European league.
During his career at Real Madrid, Carvajal amassed 27 titles across 451 appearances. Reflecting on his early career earnings, the defender once recalled that the very first thing he did upon receiving his initial professional salary was buy a house for his mother.
Salary Cap Barriers and Wage Disparities
Financial constraints presented a major obstacle to completing the signing within LaLiga regulations. Carvajal earned a gross annual salary of 10.4 million euros at Real Madrid, equivalent to roughly 866,000 euros per month or 200,000 euros weekly.
By contrast, Getafe operate under far tighter wage restrictions. Striker Borja Mayoral is the club's highest earner with an annual salary of 4.79 million euros, or 399,000 euros per month, while goalkeeper Jiří Letáček is the lowest paid on 420,000 euros per year, or 35,000 euros monthly.
Reports indicated that Carvajal would not receive a salary exceeding Getafe's top earner under any circumstances, requiring a drastic pay reduction to join as a free agent. Getafe needed to find a formula to register the player under LaLiga rules, but Torres subsequently declared that all negotiations had broken down and the operation had failed.
