Dani Carvajal was on top of the world when he helped Spain win Euro 2024. The Real Madrid captain looked like the best right-back on the planet. But since then? It's been a tough ride filled with injuries.
The 33-year-old has only managed 10 games this season. First, a muscle tear sidelined him for a month. Then knee problems kept him out through November and December. Sound familiar? Last season was almost identical after a serious cruciate ligament injury kept him out for most of the campaign.
New boss Alvaro Arbeloa is taking things slow with his veteran defender. Even though Carvajal got fit again in early January, he hasn't started a match yet. The club wants to be careful with him, and honestly, who can blame them?
Contract Situation Gets Complicated
Here's where things get interesting. Carvajal's contract expires this summer, and Real Madrid haven't started talks yet. According to reports from The Athletic, the Spanish defender definitely wants to stay at the Santiago Bernabéu. He's just waiting for the club to make the first move.
Carvajal himself isn't worried. He expects the usual one-year extension that's been the pattern lately. Real Madrid officials say any decision will be "mutual" and they recognize his massive value in the dressing room. His leadership matters just as much as what he does on the pitch.
For anyone betting on Real Madrid's season, Carvajal's fitness could be huge. A fully fit Carvajal transforms their defense. Without him, they've looked shaky at times. The next three months will tell us everything about whether he can still compete at this level.
Middle East Move on the Cards?
For the first time, Carvajal has opened up about finishing his career outside Europe. Qatar and Major League Soccer are both possibilities. His brother-in-law Joselu currently plays for Al-Gharafa in Qatar, and the two are really close.
Carvajal even posed with an Al-Gharafa shirt during a recent visit to Qatar. That's not nothing. These kinds of photos usually mean conversations have happened behind the scenes.
But first things first. Carvajal has one major goal driving him forward: the World Cup with Spain. It's the only major trophy missing from his incredible collection. Everything else takes a backseat to arriving at that tournament in peak condition.
The bottom line? Carvajal needs to prove his body can handle elite football again. For two years, he looked past his injury problems. Now they're back with a vengeance. Real Madrid will watch closely over these final months before making their call.
