MADRID, SPAIN – Real Madrid has been dealt a significant injury blow with the confirmation that veteran captain and right-back, Dani Carvajal, will be sidelined until January.
Medical reports have revealed the presence of a “joint free body” in his right knee, necessitating immediate arthroscopic surgery to address the issue, as reported by reputable sources including Arancha Mobile.
The news comes just one day after the defender featured as a second-half substitute in the club’s dramatic El Clásico victory over Barcelona on Sunday.
The “joint free body,” commonly referred to as a “loose body,” typically consists of fragments of cartilage or bone floating within the knee joint, which can cause pain, locking, and instability. The arthroscopy will be used to remove this loose fragment.
While Real Madrid has not specified an exact recovery timeline in their official statement, medical expectations suggest Carvajal could be out for anywhere from six to ten weeks.
This period means the 33-year-old is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 calendar year, targeting a return sometime in early January.
The injury is particularly worrying for the player and the club as it affects the same right knee that was severely injured in October of the previous year (2024), where he suffered a major ligament rupture that kept him out for most of the season.
This recurrence of a serious issue in the same joint raises concerns over the veteran’s long-term fitness.
Carvajal had only recently returned to action, having been out for several weeks prior to the Clásico with a separate muscular problem, making this latest setback a severe psychological blow to the captain.
Carvajal’s absence creates a substantial defensive challenge for the team as they navigate a crucial stretch of their season.
He is now set to miss key LaLiga fixtures and vital Champions League group stage matches, including the impending trip to Anfield to face Liverpool and the home clash against Manchester City.
Manager Xabi Alonso will now have to rely heavily on the returning Trent Alexander-Arnold and potentially deploy midfielder Federico Valverde in a makeshift right-back role, underscoring the severity of losing their experienced captain.
