Dani Carvajal suffered a serious ACL injury in October last year dealing a major blow to Real Madrid in the first half of the season.

One of the most important players in the team, both in terms of what he offers on the pitch and in the dressing room, the Spaniard’s absence has been felt dearly by Los Blancos in recent months, especially in the big games against the likes of Barcelona and Arsenal.

Carvajal, though, has been working very hard on his recovery and has recently resumed working on the pitch with the ball, thus entering the final phase of his rehabilitation.

Real Madrid astonished by Carvajal’s recovery

Now, AS reports that Real Madrid are astonished by Carvajal’s progress in recovering from the devastating knee injury he suffered last year.

In fact, what once seemed like a distant hope is now edging closer to reality: he is on track to be available for the Club World Cup. While he is not expected to feature as a starter in the competition, his presence in the squad is becoming increasingly likely.

Though club staff at Valdebebas remain cautious, there is a sense of quiet optimism. “Dani is a beast, he always has been,” they say.

While no one is making guarantees, the defender is remarkably close to a return. He is expected to complete his comeback within the minimum recovery window – eight months and a few days – after originally being given a timeline of eight to ten months.

Carvajal to live his ‘American Dream’

Carvajal has been targeting the Club World Cup since December, calling it his “American Dream.”

Post surgery, he began his recovery with crutches, the Real Madrid second captain has since been a regular presence in the dressing room as a leader, even while sidelined.

His progress accelerated notably in April. From gym work, he moved to light jogging and then more intense sessions on the pitch. Now, he is back working with the ball and occasionally joins his teammates in light drills.

Real Madrid staff confirm that Carvajal is sprinting, jumping, and performing explosive exercises with normality. The next and final stage is full training integration and contact drills which could come later this month, allowing him to return in time for the Club World Cup.

Will Carvajal start?

Carvajal is not expected to start or play every match, but the objective is to have him available to contribute.

For now, Lucas Vazquez or Trent Alexander-Arnold are seen as the starting options at right-back for the tournament.

Vazquez has been guaranteed a short-term extension of two weeks to ensure he can participate in the entire tournament, while talks are underway with Liverpool to secure Alexander-Arnold’s early release.