Real Madrid leaning towards veteran defender’s renewal, consider him a ‘special case’ | OneFootball

Dani Carvajal is about to enter the final six months of his contract at Real Madrid, leading to question marks about his future beyond this season.

The 33-year-old right-back’s recent trip to Qatar only served to fuel speculations that he might consider moving on in the summer to reunite with close friend, brother-in-law, and former teammate Joselu.

So far, there has been no move from the club’s side to initiate talks about an extension either, leading to major uncertainty over his future.

Carvajal a ‘special case’

However, according to AS, Carvajal’s future and continuity at Real Madrid beyond his current contract appears to be on track.

Indeed, unlike Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba, who appear certain to leave, Carvajal can be relatively calm about his situation at Real Madrid, as he is seen as a ‘special case’.

The veteran right-back will turn 34 in January and has only been able to spend 445 minutes on the pitch over the past 15 months. And, so far, the club have not yet made a definitive decision on whether to offer him another year.

Set to continue for one more year? (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

However, due to his authority and importance in the dressing room as club captain and because, what he still has left to offer on a sporting level, despite the uncertainty surrounding his physical condition, the odds are in favour of his staying.

No replacements being targeted

Moreover, Real Madrid are not searching for a new right-back and are focusing on other positions ahead of the summer.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is still in the process of settling at the club, and using Federico Valverde as a right-back outside of emergency situations could once again provoke the Uruguayan’s displeasure.

In short, the current planning includes Carvajal as part of the project, especially as if he manages to halt his recent run of injuries and find continuity in 2026, he will further strengthen his case on the pitch.

The Real Madrid captain is working tirelessly to recover from his most recent serious physical problem, an issue in his knee which needed him to undergo arthroscopy in October.

Carvajal is close to returning and could be included in the trip to Jeddah for the Spanish Super Cup. As for his continuity, it now seems more a matter of timing than of doubt.