Rabat – Dani Carvajal is set to leave Real Madrid this summer after the club decided not to renew his contract.
The veteran defender, now 34, has struggled with fitness and repeated injuries, leaving him far from the level that once made him a cornerstone of the team.
Carvajal has endured one of the most difficult seasons of his career. A recent toe injury has ruled him out of most of Madrid’s remaining matches, adding to a long list of setbacks.
Muscle problems, knee issues, and recurring absences have prevented him from regaining rhythm after a serious injury earlier in the campaign.
This season, he has managed just 442 minutes on the pitch, reflecting his reduced role.
Once a guaranteed starter, he has now slipped out of the plans of the coaching staff, with younger options preferred in key games. His absence has also cost him a place in Spain’s national team, where competition for defensive spots remains fierce.
End of a long journey
Carvajal’s contract expires on June 30, and Madrid have decided against offering an extension. That decision effectively closes the chapter on a career that has spanned 13 seasons at the Bernabéu.
During that time, he won 4 La Liga titles, 6 Champions League trophies, and became one of the most reliable right‑backs in Europe.
Carvajal is a homegrown player who rose through the academy, returned after a brief spell at Bayer Leverkusen, and became a leader in Madrid’s defense.
But the repeated injuries of recent years have eroded his influence, leaving the club with little choice but to move on.
What comes next
Carvajal’s departure marks the end of an era. It opens the door for Madrid to reshape their back line, with younger defenders expected to take on greater responsibility.
For Carvajal, the future is uncertain. At 34, with his fitness in question, options may be limited, though his experience and winning pedigree could still appeal to clubs seeking leadership.
If this season is indeed his last at the Bernabéu, Carvajal will leave as one of the most decorated players of Madrid’s modern era.
