Real Madrid veteran defender feels ready to start after recent lack of minutes | OneFootball

Real Madrid have felt the absence of their captain Dani Carvajal and his leadership quality on the field for a majority of the season.

The veteran defender suffered a serious injury in October that required him to undergo arthroscopic surgery, ruling him out of action until September.

While the 34-year-old right-back did return to the squad in early January, at the Spanish Super Cup, he has barely played.

Carvajal now feels ready to start

But, in a positive update, AS now reports that Carvajal now feels ready to start for Real Madrid again ahead of the crucial clash against Valencia later this week.

The Real Madrid captain did not play any minutes at the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. And he has barely seen any on-field action since Alvaro Arbeloa took over the first-team reins from Xabi Alonso.

Ready to start. (Photo credit: Real Madrid Official Website)

Indeed, Carvajal has been an unused substitute in the team’s previous four La Liga matches, while he played less than 15 minutes against Albacete (Copa del Rey) and AS Monaco (Champions League). He was not called upon against Benfica by the manager.

Carvajal’s lack of minutes had led to growing concerns over his fitness, but having had multiple training sessions with the team, including today’s double session led by Antonio Pintus, he now feels ready.

The 34-year-old’s readiness to start games again will come as a major boost for the team, not only in terms of his leadership and experience, but also the fact that it will allow Arbeloa to move Federico Valverde back into his natural role in midfield.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, out with an injury since December, is also set to be back in the squad against Valencia, which will come as a massive relief for Real Madrid, who will now have their natural right-backs fit and available.