Dani Carvajal injury is worse than expected: how long will the Real Madrid defender be out for and what games will he miss?

The worst forecasts have been confirmed for Dani Carvajal, who will miss the remainder of the season. After medical tests were carried out on the Real Madrid right-back, it was confirmed that the severity of the injury goes beyond the rupture of the cruciate ligament in his right knee, something that the player himself had already announced in the early hours of the morning after the first examinations and which will force him to undergo surgery. Carvajal has also torn the external collateral ligament and the popliteal tendon in his right leg. He will undergo surgery in the next few days.

The Madrid right-back was seriously injured in Saturday’s 2-0 home win against Villarreal, as the match was drawing to a close. The injury occurred in a dispute with Yeremy Pino, in which the defender’s right leg caught the Villarreal player’s leg provoking an unnatural movement.

“A serious cruciate ligament injury has been confirmed, I’m going to have to undergo surgery and be off the pitch for a few months. I’m already looking forward to starting the recovery and coming back like a beast. Thank you all very much for your messages, I feel very loved,” Carvajal posted on his social networks.

Who could Ancelotti play at right-back with Carvajal out for the season?

Carvajal’s injury is a headache for Carlo Ancelotti as he loses his first-choice right-back as Real Madrid chase seven trophies this season. Lucas Vázquez is the only viable option and the only player in the squad with experience in the position. His natural position is as a winger but he was dropped back into the back four by Zidane when Carvajal suffered a ligament injury in October 2020.

In the reserves there is David Jiménez, Jesús Fortea and Loren Aguado - none of whom have debuted with the first team (Jiménez has been called up and was on the bench for the Alavés game a couple of weeks ago) and Fortea is only 17. It’s unlikely that Ancelotti would take such a big gamble - especially during an historic season with so many big games on the horizon.

It’s also a problem for the club as Dani is in the final year of his contract with the club. His injury will surely reignite speculation about Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold who could be available on a free next summer - or alternatively sign a new deal with the Reds. Madrid have been looking at a replacement for the long-term. Whether Ancelotti sees TAA as a solution in Madrid’s back four is another question...

It was not the only injury of the night, although Vinicius’ was much less serious: the Brazilian left with pain in his right shoulder, with cervical discomfort. “He has had a problem in his cervical spine, he is in a lot of pain,” Ancelotti explained n the press room.