Dani Carvajal: Madrid's growth is in the hands of its people

As the countdown to San Isidro approaches, Madrid’s Plaza de la Villa has filled with locals eager to begin the celebrations. Despite forecasts of rain, the energy remains high with traditional symbols like cabezudos, drums, carnations, and parpusas marking the start of the festival. At 18:30, Dani Carvajal, the Real Madrid footballer and this year’s pregonero, took to the balcony of the old City Hall, accompanied by Madrid’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, to deliver the official proclamation.

With emotion evident on his face, Carvajal began his speech by thanking Madrid and its people for the opportunity to serve as pregonero, especially during a challenging time in his life due to a physical and psychological injury. "I was going through a tough period, and when you live for sport, being sidelined feels like disappearing. This invitation felt like a boost, as if Madrid was telling me, 'Don’t worry, we’re here for you,'" he shared.

Carvajal also expressed his appreciation for the gesture from the mayor, despite the fact that Almeida is a loyal Atlético de Madrid supporter. “It’s a beautiful gesture,” Carvajal said, comparing Madrid’s essence to the city’s ability to embrace diversity in opinions and tastes. "Madrid is above all that. It’s a mindset, a state of being  where the rush meets calm, the hustle of traffic contrasts with peaceful conversations on a terrace, a walk through El Retiro, a perfectly poured beer, spontaneous plans at any time. It’s a place where you don’t have to be born here to feel like a true madrileño."

The Madrid native also reflected on his pride in representing Real Madrid, an institution he feels mirrors the city’s values of ambition, history, resilience, and perseverance, especially in difficult times. He concluded by emphasizing that Madrid’s growth is far from over. "Madrid hasn't reached its peak yet. It's growing rapidly, and it's up to us, the people who live here, to continue pushing it forward. We have a bright future ahead. To close, I’ll say a phrase that perfectly sums up what it means to live here: 'De Madrid, al cielo.'"

The crowd responded with cheers, a mix of "Hala Madrid" and "Que bote Carvajal," as the mayor looked on. This was just the beginning of the many events planned throughout the city from May 9 to 15, with the culmination at the Pradera de San Isidro. The city has chosen Carvajal as the face of this year’s celebrations, recognizing his role as a local hero who, despite being born in Leganés, has become an integral part of Madrid’s sporting and cultural identity.