Real Madrid apparently had this card up its sleeve days ago & was only waiting for todays Inter Milan summit between Maicon & the Italian Club, which ended with a statement that Maicon will stay in Milan, to exercise the option with Chelsea FC. The other "alternative" AC Milan defender Thiago was an option that was too costly with a 25-30M€ price tag that Real Madrid was not prepared to pay, to which some insiders comment that Thiago was just a diversion tactic.
Either way, the signing of Carvalho is full of controversy & has shocked many fans & media specialists. How can the Club justify signing a 32 year old defender when they just "asked" their legendary Captain Raul with 33 years of age to leave? Many bad tongues comment that José Mourinho & his "inside circle" ( including his representative Jorge Mendes ) could have economic interests behind this operation, although this is pure speculation without any solid proof or backing. Other media specialists have even go on further to say that Carvalho will play the function of being Mourinho´s inside man in the dressing room to keep the Coach informed on things, something that if true is bizarre.
Independently, one can suspect that Carvalho comes to be a line-up starter to the detriment of Spanish International RAUL ALBIOL who had a sensational last season & GARAY a solid Argentine International who will be seeing more of the bench. The former will have arguements to be puzzled & even "upset" as this performance last season was considered to be one of the best in his position in the Spanish League.
A transfer story that needs to be made official by Clubs before we can say it is all true that will however bring plenty of debate within the local & International Football circles. I personally cannot understand this decision, although I haven´t the knowledge nor expertise of the Real Madrid Directives or of Coach José Mourinho.
