Ricardo Carvalho signed for Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid in the summer of 2010. The Portuguese centre back moved to the club from Premier League team Chelsea in a £6.7m deal. Jose Mourinho was the catalyst for the decision to join Real Madrid. Ricardo Carvalho moved to Madrid shortly after Mourinho was announced as the new Real Madrid manager. He had just won the treble with Inter Milan in the Italian Serie A. The Portuguese tactician secured an unprecedented treble with the Nerazzuri at the end of the 2009/10 campaign as he led them to the Coppa Italia, Italian Serie A and Champions League titles.
Ricardo Carvalho was sent off for the first time in a Real Madrid during the 1-0 home win over Sevilla. He picked up his second yellow card for his marching orders after a foul on Alvaro Negredo. The former FC Porto and AS Monaco defender finished the season with three goals in 48 appearances in all competitions for Real Madrid in his first season at the club.
Ex-Portuguese international star Carvalho started his second campaign as a Real Madrid player well as he remained an important part of the starting XI. He was the centre back partner for compatriot Pepe until injury struck. The player missed several weeks of football due to a lower back injury. Ricardo Carvalho was a Madrid player for three seasons and he scored three goals in 50 games for the Spanish team in the league.