The current season has taken a disappointing turn for Dani Carvajal, with a recent injury potentially leading to an unceremonious departure from Real Madrid and jeopardizing his chances of participating in the World Cup.
Real Madrid announced on Saturday that the right-back has been diagnosed with a «fracture of the distal phalanx of the fifth toe on his right foot.»
While the club did not specify a timeline for his recovery, it seems unlikely that Carvajal will feature again in the final stretch of the season due to the painful hairline fracture in his little toe. It is also uncertain if he will ever wear the Real Madrid jersey again.
Carvajal’s contract is set to expire this summer after 13 years and 448 official appearances for the club, during which he has also served as captain on multiple occasions. Throughout his tenure, he has been a key figure in the team’s success, winning the Champions League six times, the UEFA Super Cup five times, and the Spanish league title four times.
Multiple Spanish media outlets have recently reported that the club icon is keen to extend his contract by another year. However, the prevailing sentiment, particularly among Real Madrid’s management, appears to lean towards his departure. This is further compounded by Carvajal having lost his undisputed starting position.
Carvajal No Longer a Regular Starter for Real Madrid
Conversely, coach Alvaro Arbeloa recently asserted the opposite. «He has started some games, some with the highest stakes, like against Atletico Madrid. He’s doing well, I couldn’t be happier with his performances. He is a fundamental player for us, both on and off the pitch.» Nevertheless, his record of 20 appearances, partly due to injuries, totaling 885 minutes of play, paints a less impressive picture.
Rumors suggest that the relationship between Arbeloa and Carvajal is strained, as is reportedly the case among several players. However, the successor to Xabi Alonso may also be facing an imminent departure, given the club’s highly probable trophyless season. The search for a new coach is reportedly in full swing, with President Florentino Perez’s favored candidate for the role being Jose Mourinho. It is possible that Carvajal’s prospects could be reassessed under a new Real Madrid coach.
Carvajal Must Now Worry About His World Cup Ticket
Furthermore, with this latest injury, Carvajal has even more reason to be concerned about securing a spot in the World Cup squad than he already did. Since the start of World Cup qualifiers in September 2025, he has only made one appearance for Spain, having missed a significant portion of the qualifying campaign due to injuries.
In March, the 34-year-old was not included in the squad for the European champions. Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur) has instead been preferred, and Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid) has also been deployed at right-back.