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WHAT HAPPENED?
Dani Carvajal suffered a serious knee injury during Real Madrid’s match against Villarreal on October 5, 2024. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), external collateral ligament, and popliteus tendon in his right knee. Carvajal underwent surgery and has been in recovery since then. Contrary to some of the sources, he has not yet returned to action.
The defender has been making steady progress in his recovery. He recently began light, individual training sessions on the grass, which he described as an exciting milestone. However, he has not yet returned to full team training or match play.
WHAT DANI CARVAJAL SAID
In a recent interview with Real Madrid club media, Carvajal expressed his feelings about returning to training on the grass: “When you step on the grass with your boots on, the comeback feels even closer. I never thought I would have that feeling when doing a very light, individual training session.”
Regarding his recovery timeline, Carvajal told Esquire: “That [returning for the Club World Cup in June] is my goal. At the beginning of June, it will be eight months since the surgery. We will see how everything progresses. The knee takes its time. I have set that as a goal, but as the date approaches we will see if it is feasible or not.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Carvajal’s injury has been a significant blow for Real Madrid, forcing the team to adapt their defensive lineup. In his absence, players like Lucas Vazquez and Federico Valverde have been filling in at right-back. The club’s medical staff have reportedly been impressed by Carvajal’s dedication to his recovery, noting that he has been training extensively and is believed to be ahead of schedule.
WHAT NEXT?
Carvajal will continue his rehabilitation process with the aim of returning to full fitness. While he has expressed hope of playing in the Club World Cup in June 2025, his exact return date remains uncertain. Real Madrid will likely take a cautious approach to ensure his complete recovery before reintegrating him into the squad.
