Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal is set to be sidelined for a month after suffering a calf injury in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Granada, according to ESPN.
Carvajal, who has been in career-best form for Real Madrid this season, with 17 appearances in all competitions, was replaced at halftime in the La Liga game at the Bernabeu by Lucas Vázquez.
The right-back is the latest to join Madrid’s long list of injured players, which includes:
- Thibaut Courtois
- Kepa Arrizabalaga
- Éder Milito
- Aurélien Tchouaméni
- Eduardo Camavinga
- Luka Modric
- Arda Güler
- Vinicius Junior
- Dani Carvajal
“After tests carried out by Real Madrid Medical Services on our player Dani Carvajal, he has been diagnosed with an injury in the soleus muscle of his left leg,” Madrid said in a statement on Monday.
According to ESPN, the club is confident that Carvajal will be eligible for the Spanish Supercopa semifinals against Atlético Madrid on January 10.
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Despite their injuries, Madrid leads La Liga after 15 games, tied on 38 points with Girona for second place, and has qualified for the Champions League round of 16 as group winners.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the Granada game that he hoped Carvajal’s injury was “not serious,” but that the player would be evaluated by medical personnel.
Carvajal spoke out last week against the crowded fixture list that elite players face, stating that many would be willing to take a wage reduction if it meant playing fewer games and avoiding injury.
“A lot of people say ‘why don’t [players] cut their salaries?’ We haven’t said we wouldn’t. If we had to earn less and play fewer games, it wouldn’t be a problem. You don’t see players at their best, and the games are dropping in quality.”
“It’s a calendar that can’t continue,” Ancelotti said last month.
“Those who prepare the calendar have to look at it. We have this problem, and it will get worse. The solution is straightforward. Reduce the number of games. The coaches and the players can’t do it. LaLiga, UEFA and FIFA can. But we have more Champions League games, more World Cup games. Until it’s sorted out, I think we’ll have even more problems.”
