Dani Carvajal faces Athletic Bilbao backlash over 2023 injury to Yuri Berchiche

Dani Carvajal was subjected to sustained hostility from Athletic Bilbao supporters during Getafe’s 4-0 defeat, despite a post-match embrace with Yuri Berchiche.

The Getafe defender and former Real Madrid player was booed before kick-off and faced jeers from the stands whenever he touched the ball, according to German newspaper Bild. The hostile atmosphere continued throughout the match as supporters made Carvajal the focus of their anger over an incident dating back to 2023.

The reaction was rooted in a meeting between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid that year, when Carvajal was playing for the Spanish club. During a challenge for the ball, he made forceful contact with Berchiche, who was then an Athletic Bilbao defender.

Berchiche suffered a serious injury in the incident, sustaining a fracture to his fibula. The injury left a lasting impression on Athletic Bilbao supporters, who have continued to regard Carvajal as responsible for the tackle.

That history explained the hostile reception Carvajal received in the latest match, despite several years having passed since the incident. The 4-0 result further intensified the contrast between the mood in the stands and what happened on the pitch after the final whistle.

While supporters remained openly antagonistic towards Carvajal, Berchiche approached him at the end of the game. The two players spoke before embracing, in a moment that stood in sharp contrast to the anger directed at Carvajal during the match.

Their exchange suggested that the events of 2023 no longer prevented the pair from maintaining a personal relationship. It also showed that the two players had moved beyond the disagreement away from the reaction of the crowd.