Real Madrid veteran Dani Carvajal is facing a season out on the sidelines after suffering an ACL rupture back in October in the dying stages of the La Liga game against Villarreal.
The diagnosis was staggering: an anterior cruciate ligament tear, an external collateral ligament tear, a popliteal tendon tear, and damage to the hamstring – sidelining him for the remainder of the season.
More than two months after the incident, Carvajal recently sat down with Esquire for an interview, during which he reflected on his injury as well as the successful year that 2024 has been for him.
“You have to approach this as a long-term situation. In that sense, I am meeting daily and weekly goals… Now I can almost walk without crutches, I can already do gym work, cycling, and I am gaining degrees in knee flexion…,” said Carvajal about his recovery.
“They are short-term goals, but I am achieving them. I am happy,” he added.
Trying to put a positive spin on the situation, the Spaniard, who enjoyed a tremendously successful 2024, remarked: “Maybe this could extend my career by several years….”
On his comeback, best moments of 2024
Even though Carvajal is ruled out for the rest of the season, the Real Madrid veteran expressed some hope about being fit in time for the summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
“That is my goal. At the beginning of June, it will be eight months since the surgery. We will see how everything progresses. The knee takes time. I have set it as my goal, but as the date approaches, we will see if it is feasible or not,” he said.
Carvajal won a multitude of trophies with club and country this year and had a plethora of special moments along the way. When asked to pick his best moment of 2024, he replied:
“I would say that scoring in a Champions League final is something unique. That is something that will go down in history. Scoring in the 15th and doing it with a header from a corner, without being a tall player, was a very special moment for me.
“I think it’s on par with winning the European Championship. For me, playing for the national team and defending your country is the ultimate pride, and winning a major title with Spain was incredible.”
Carvajal’s pick for his best moment of 2024. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Talking about Real Madrid’s mixed start to the season, which brought a lot of pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti and the team, Carvajal said:
“From the outside, it is much harder. You have a different perspective of the team, of how you can help. I try to contribute my little bit, speak with my teammates, check how they are doing. And how do I see it….
“Unfortunately, we are suffering a lot of injuries, both major and minor, but when two or three pile up, it becomes difficult to rotate and increases the risk of more injuries. I think we are managing well so far.”
“This year we have brought in an important player like Mbappe, but we have also lost players like Toni [Kroos], Nacho, and Joselu. You have to adapt all the pieces of the puzzle. We will see where we stand in March or April.”
On the Ballon d’Or
When asked about the Ballon d’Or, after his fourth-place finish as the best player in the world, Carvajal preferred to avoid the question:
“I understand that you ask me, but I would prefer not to answer because I think that whatever I say could be misinterpreted. I can only tell you that, if I am not mistaken, I think I am the right-back who has finished highest in a Ballon d’Or ceremony.
“Regardless of whether I deserved to win it or not, I am very proud, and so is my family. For something like this to happen at 32 years old, it’s something to be happy about.”
Reflecting on whether he thought about the possibility of winning the Ballon d’Or, Carvajal admitted:
“Well… yes, it crosses your mind. You think, ‘I have won everything, I have been important.’ But it’s complicated… you understand that as a right-back, it is much harder to win the Ballon d’Or.”
On his future
Carvajal is in the final year of his contract at Real Madrid, although an extension is guaranteed at this point.
However, the defender admitted that if a time comes when he has to leave the Santiago Bernabeu, he would not mind following in his brother-in-law and close friend Joselu’s footsteps and move to Qatar.
“Yes, undoubtedly. It would not seem like an absurd idea. I have already said that if I ever leave Real Madrid, I will not play in Europe. I will not compete against Madrid, neither in the Champions League nor in Spain. And Qatar would be a likely destination.”
In fact, Carvajal even revealed that Joselu has already been joking with him about the move, saying:
“He tells me: ‘I’m waiting for you here. I’m saving the right-back spot for you.'”
On player workload
Carvajal ruptured his ACL in October. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
There has been a significant increase in the number of player injuries in recent times and on being asked if it is due to the greater workload and more number of matches being played, Carvajal said:
“It is a very complex issue. In the end, the number of players who are starters for their club, play in three competitions, and are regulars for their national team is very small – we are talking about 50 to 60 players.
“What is being seen is that with such a heavy schedule, injuries are inevitable. And although the squads are larger and it is said that rotations are possible, I have many friends who tell me, ‘I want to go see this match.’
“The people they want to see are Vinícius, Mbappe, Bellingham… and at their best level. They do not want to see them tired or underperforming. For that to happen, you need a much lighter calendar. Otherwise, it is impossible.”
On his long-term plans
Asked whether he thought much about his long-term future after his football career, Carvajal admitted:
“No, and it scares me. It scares me to wake up one day and not go to training. It terrifies me. That is why I try to enjoy each day to the fullest. Now I even watch my teammates train, and I think, ‘Oh, I wish I could be there.’ You give more value to stepping on the pitch.
“Going to the club, being with my teammates, doing my gym sessions, being in the physio room, talking with this one and that one. I value all of that a lot because I know it’s coming to an end, and you have to enjoy it.”
When asked what he meant by “coming to an end,” Carvajal replied: “Well, I am 32 years old. I am no longer a child. How much time do I have left? Four or five years of football? It’s little. Time flies by.”