Madrid's Right-Back Dilemma: Alonso's Tactical Shuffle as Carvajal Rehabs
6 December 2025
Injury hits Real Madrid's right flank
Real Madrid suffered another setback after the injury to English right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, forcing coach Xabi Alonso to rethink options on the right flank while Dani Carvajal works to speed up his recovery, hoping to be back before the end of the year or at the start of January.
According to Spanish newspaper AS, the injury to Alexander-Arnold puts Alonso in a new bind after previously facing a crisis in this position.
Alonso is again weighing the option of fielding Federico Valverde as a right-back, or relying on Raúl Asensio who previously filled this role after the Englishman's injury at San Mamés against Athletic Bilbao.
Options and timeline
It noted that Real Madrid awaits Carvajal's return after an arthroscopic knee operation to remove a loose body in the right knee, according to the club's medical report published on October 27, following the Clasico.
The trouble started immediately after the Clasico when he felt sharp pain and informed club doctors that this was more than a routine soreness after nearly a month out.
Following an assessment, doctors opted for knee arthroscopy, with a prognosis of a 6 to 10 week layoff.
This week marked the first six weeks, yet the defender is pushing hard to shorten the recovery window.
Even with a possible return before year-end Madrid finishing 2025 with Sevilla on December 20—the most likely scenario is a January comeback, ready for 2026 against Real Betis on January 4, and the Spanish Super Cup derby with Atletico Madrid in Jeddah on January 8.
Worry grows because the surgery was on the same knee that previously endured an ACL tear on October 9, 2024, against Villarreal.
The season has not been kind to Carvajal either, starting with a drive to overcome last season's struggles, then a red card in the first Champions League game against Olympique Marseille, earning a two-match ban and limiting his participation in the competition.
He also picked up a right calf strain after a challenge by Nico Gonzalez in the Madrid derby with Atlético Madrid, forcing him to miss nearly a month.
Carvajal returned for the Clasico but hasn't played a minute since.
Punchline 1: In injury news, the right-back rotation is so tight, even the bench needs a GPS to find a seat.
Punchline 2: If rehab were a transfer window, Carvajal would be a headline signing—except the doctor signs the contract, and it says January 2026.
