Real Madrid captain Carvajal faces setback in knee surgery

Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal will undergo surgery on his right knee, dealing another blow to the defender who has been plagued by persistent injury problems over the past year.

“Following tests carried out on our captain Dani Carvajal by Real Madrid’s medical services, he has been diagnosed with a loose body in his right knee. Carvajal will undergo arthroscopic surgery,” LaLiga officials said in a brief statement on Monday.

According to club sources, the veteran defender could be out for up to 10 weeks as he recovers from another operation on his troublesome right knee.

The latest setback means Carvajal is likely to miss the rest of 2025. The news came a day after Carvajal played 19 minutes as a substitute in Real’s dramatic 2-1 El Clasico win over bitter rivals Barcelona.

This fiery encounter extended Real’s lead at the top of LaLiga to five points, with the club now on 27 points to Barcelona’s 22.

Carvajal’s injury woes date back more than a year, when he ruptured two ligaments and a tendon in a LaLiga match against Villarreal in early October 2024, forcing the 33-year-old defender to miss much of last season.

While he returned to action during the Club World Cup semi-finals in July, he has since struggled to muster consistent appearances due to micro-muscular issues.

The latest surgery represents another disappointing setback for a player whose experience and leadership have been crucial to Real Madrid’s success.

On Sunday, Jude Bellingham’s goal helped Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 to win a tense Clasico and move five points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of La Liga.

Champions Barcelona won all four times the teams met last season, but in his first Clasico as Real Madrid manager, Xabi Alonso swept that run.

Kylian Mbappe, who later missed a penalty, fired Madrid ahead and although Fermin Lopez equalized for the visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu, Bellingham scored a second for the hosts before half-time which proved decisive.

Madrid’s victory means they have won nine of their opening 10 league games and Alonso’s side proved against Barca that they can triumph on the big occasion, following their derby humiliation at the hands of Atletico Madrid in September.