Real Madrid News
Real Madrid veteran ‘demoralised’ with reduced role, going through his ‘darkest days’ at club
The ongoing season has been a very difficult one for Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal. After struggling with injuries during the first half of the season, the 34-year-old veteran has found minutes hard to come by since the turn of the year.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has firmly established himself as a regular starter at right-back, leaving the veteran Spaniard with a very limited role in the team.
Carvajal going through difficult time
As such, MARCA reports that Carvajal is going through his ‘darkest days’ at Real Madrid and has been ‘demoralised’ by his situation in Alvaro Arbeloa’s setup.
The loss of prominence in the team that has tested his patience and diminished his strong personality in the dressing room. So far he has played only 18 times this term (7 starts) and did not get any minutes against Mallorca and Bayern Munich over the past week.
This situation has been difficult to accept: as captain, as a highly competitive player, and as a club legend who had dominated his position without real competition since returning to Real Madrid in 2013.
Carvajal’s performances have been questioned following his recovery from a serious knee injury last season, while he had to deal with another knee problem earlier this campaign as well.
What’s happening with Carvajal?
Since returning from his latest injury on 4 January against Real Betis, playing time has become harder to come by than expected, initially under Xabi Alonso and then under Arbeloa.
Carvajal does not share these doubts about his form and fitness and frustration grew until it reached a breaking point in early February. After being overlooked in games against Rayo Vallecano and Valencia, he was involved in a heated exchange with Antonio Pintus.
This led to a direct meeting between player and coach to resolve tensions and clarify the situation. Following the discussion, one immediate consequence was that David Jimenez, who started vs Valencia, returned to Castilla and has not been called up since.
Despite this, Carvajal’s situation did not improve and frustration continued to grow. This is believed to have contributed to an unpleasant training incident wherein he made a heavy challenge on Victor Valdepenas, causing a knee injury that kept the youngster out for a month.
Carvajal did get to start against Atletico last month, but only because Trent was late to a training session. While it did help repair his relationship with Arbeloa somewhat, the right-back was once again left without any minutes in the last two games.
His isolation on the bench and distant expression after the defeat at Mallorca said everything. The same situation repeated against Bayern.
Given the situation, there is a growing feeling that the captain is in his final days at Real Madrid, with his contract expiring on 30 June and no renewal in sight.
Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid manager defends Vinicius following red card vs Villarreal: ‘I don’t see intentionality’
Real Madrid resumed their campaign with a narrow win over Villarreal and three points, but it was yet another controversial affair due to refereeing decisions.
Vinicius Jr thought he had doubled Madrid’s lead against Villarreal, only for the goal to be chalked off and the Brazilian to be sent off in the same breath.
A VAR review showed Vinicius had tugged the hair of Villarreal’s Nathan Saliba in the build-up, prompting referee Isidro Diaz de Mera to void the goal and brandish a straight red.
The decision has split opinion, and one Madrid great has come out firmly in the forward’s corner.
Jorge Valdano on Vinicius’ red
Former real Madrid player and manager Jorge Valdano, speaking to Movistar, saw little malice in the incident.
“It’s an absolutely instinctive gesture. He feels they’re closing him in, he wants to get rid of it, and he does it in the most illegal way he can find,” he said (h/t Mundo Deportivo).
Drawing a distinction with more serious offences, he added: “It would make the difference between what is a spit, for example, and what this is.”
The former World Cup winner was unequivocal in his assessment of the act itself. “I don’t see any intentionality, the dirtyness of the action,” he concluded.
Ominous time for Vinicius
Valdano’s sympathy will do little to console Vinicius Jr., who might be staring at a lengthy suspension after the red card incident.
The Brazilian is already at risk of missing the Clasico on October 25, with the final disciplinary ruling still to come.
The referee’s report logs two separate matters. The first is the hair pull itself; the second is his reaction, described as continued loud protests and an aggressive approach to the official that forced Federico Valverde, Antonio Rudiger and others to restrain him.
Depending on how that conduct is classified, the suspension could stretch to two, three or four games. The one reprieve is that the red card is domestic, leaving Vinicius free for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Roma.
