Monday seemed like a festive day at Real Madrid's training ground after the Clásico victory against FC Barcelona (2-1). However, a new injury has generated concern and discomfort in the coaching staff, as it involves a key player for the defense of the team led by Xabi Alonso.
The club's doctors confirmed that Dani Carvajal, who reappeared against Barça after suffering an overload in his left hamstring in recent weeks, will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. The operation seeks to eliminate "the presence of a loose body" in the same knee that was seriously injured a year ago.
On October 9, 2024, in a match against Villarreal, the 'merengue' captain suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament that left him sidelined for 9 months. The '2' reappeared in the Club World Cup, but has relapsed from his knee discomfort after playing just over 20 minutes in the Clásico of J10 of La Liga.
Dani Carvajal will not play again for the remainder of 2025
Although Real Madrid did not specify how long Carvajal will be out, it is likely that the full-back will be out for 2 to 3 months. In that sense, the player from Leganés will not be able to play for the remainder of 2025, meaning he would miss around 10 official matches (3 Champions League, 7 League).
For the time being, the Whites still have Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba in their infirmary. The German international could reappear in early December after suffering a tear in the rectus anterior muscle of his left thigh. The Austrian, however, remains sidelined due to an injury to his right soleus muscle.
Carvajal, like Pablo Gavi, has had to undergo arthroscopy, although the case of the Barça midfielder is more delicate because it is an intervention on the right internal meniscus. In principle, the Andalusian will be out of action until February 2026.
Carvajal's never-ending ordeal with injuries
Beyond his extraordinary record with Real Madrid, Dani Carvajal, since his return to the club in 13/14, has seen his performance diminished by multiple muscular injuries. In total, the '2' has suffered 32 injuries in the last 12 years, with the 24/25 and 20/21 seasons being the ones where he spent the most time injured.
The Leganés native also missed the 2016 and 2020 European Championships due to injury, although he did manage to play in the last two World Cups (2018 and 2022), in addition to being a key player in the team that won Euro 2024. At 33 years old, the right-back hopes to recover in time to play in what will probably be his last World Cup next summer.