Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal has announced he will undergo surgery after suffering a serious cruciate ligament injury in the team’s 2-0 win at Villarreal in LaLiga. The 32-year-old right-back was stretchered off in stoppage time after an awkward collision with Villarreal midfielder Yeremy Pino saw him sprain his right knee.
In an Instagram post, Carvajal updated his followers that “Serious cruciate ligament injury confirmed. I will have to go through surgery and be off the field for some months.” He sounded positive for recovery, saying, “I look forward to starting the recovery process and coming back like an animal. Thanks for your messages; I feel very loved.”
The injury is a big blow to Real Madrid, already afflicted by several absences, among them that of key goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was similarly felled by an abductor muscle injury during last weekend’s encounter with Atletico Madrid.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti said he was concerned about Carvajal’s injury and also the extent of the hurt list at Santiago Bernabéu. Reports indicate that the Spanish international may be out for several months, creating an open hole in Madrid’s backline.
