Spanish media outlets have reported that Real Madrid’s coaching staff has categorically refused to allow Dani Carvajal to return to action for the club due to his incomplete recovery from his recent injury.
The Real Madrid captain has been sidelined since his last appearance against Monaco, a mere 14 minutes on January 20th in the Champions League, and has remained on the bench ever since.
According to recent reports, Carvajal spoke with Álvaro Arbeloa and requested a return to the starting lineup, but the Real Madrid coach has flatly rejected this request based on the information provided by the club’s medical staff regarding the 34-year-old’s knee.
The medical team believes that Carvajal’s knee is not yet ready to withstand significant playing time and has decided to proceed cautiously with his recovery, not permitting his return to competitive matches until he is completely free of any pain.
Arbeloa is following the medical staff’s lead and refusing to risk Carvajal now, especially since any aggravation of his current injury would mean his absence for the rest of the season and his loss of the chance to participate in the 2026 World Cup with the Spanish national team.
It is worth noting that Real Madrid is clearly suffering at right-back, as both Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold are out injured, forcing Arbeloa to rely on Fede Valverde or Raúl Asensio in their place.
