Real Madrid captain undergoes surgery, out until 2026

Carvajal has successfully come out of surgery, and starting today, he begins his rehabilitation. He underwent an arthroscopy after a loose body was detected in his right knee—the same knee that suffered a severe triple tear in October 2024. The operation was a success, and from this point, the countdown to his return begins.

The club estimates he will be sidelined for six to ten weeks. While there is a chance he could return in mid-December, it is highly unlikely. Internally, the most realistic expectation is that he will not be back until 2026.

This is a new injury, another major setback, and it comes in a World Cup year. Carvajal previously suffered a tear in his right soleus at the Metropolitano. Last Sunday, in the Clásico, he marked exactly four weeks of absence and made his return, playing 19 minutes as a substitute for Valverde. Overall, his performance felt positive, but by the end of the match, he began experiencing discomfort. He quickly informed the medical team, who scheduled him for tests on Monday.

Early on Monday, an MRI confirmed the worst: a joint free body in his right knee. Various options were considered, but the safest course was surgery followed by rehabilitation. This morning, Carvajal was operated on by Dr. Leyes, with the club’s medical team supervising the procedure. It followed the usual protocol, and the surgery was a complete success. Dani is now out of the operating room.

From today, his rehabilitation begins. He is certain to miss nine matches: Valencia (home), Liverpool (away), Rayo Vallecano (away), Georgia (away), Turkey (home), Elche (away), Olympiacos (away), Girona (away), and Celta de Vigo (home). This period will cover the first six weeks of his recovery, but all parties understand that he will not return until the risk of relapse is zero. It is also likely he will miss additional matches against Manchester City (home), Alavés (away), and Sevilla (home)—essentially, the remainder of 2025.

The ten-week mark coincides with the Reyes period, just as the Spanish Super Cup approaches. The most probable scenario is for him to return around that time. (It is worth noting there will be no matches between December 21 and January 4, which creates a notable gap in the schedule.) During his absence, Trent Alexander-Arnold—and Valverde, who will cover the Englishman—will manage the right-back duties for Real Madrid for the rest of 2025.

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Starting today, Carvajal begins his rehabilitation. Once again, it is his right knee—this time due to a loose body—that has forced him into surgery. The arthroscopy was successful, and the countdown begins: six to ten weeks sidelined, effectively ruling him out for the remainder of 2025. The priority now is full recovery and returning at 100 percent, especially in a World Cup year that shapes everything.

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