Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal to undergo surgery after cruciate ligament injury
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Medical personnel carry Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal on a stretcher after he suffered a knee injury during the match against Villarreal.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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MADRID – Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal confirmed that he will undergo surgery after suffering a serious knee injury in the 2-0 Spanish La Liga win over Villarreal on Oct 5.
Carvajal was stretchered off in stoppage time after a duel with Villarreal midfielder Yeremy Pino caused him to sprain his right knee unnaturally.
Screams of pain were heard and the Santiago Bernabeu home crowd went silent as the right-back was carried off the pitch.
“Serious cruciate ligament injury confirmed, I’ll have to undergo surgery and be off the field for a few months,” the 32-year-old said on Instagram as he posted his picture in an ambulance.
“Looking forward to starting the recovery process and coming back like an animal.”
Real posted on their website on Oct 6 that Carvajal not only tore his anterior cruciate ligament, but also ruptured an external collateral ligament and a tendon in his right knee.
This is the latest blow for the Spanish giants, whose first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had suffered a thigh injury against Atletico Madrid on Sept 29, with Andriy Lunin deputising for him.
“It looks like a pretty serious knee injury, the dressing room is sad and worried,” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said when asked about Carvajal.
“It’s something that happens a lot of times because of the calendar and it’s happened to a very important player for us. He is a fundamental player for us because of his experience, seriousness.
“I’ve been talking to him and he’s sad, but there’s not much we can do.”
Real’s win was much needed as they bounced back after two games without a victory, having lost 1-0 at Lille in the Champions League on Oct 2 and being held to a 1-1 draw at Atletico in their previous league game.
They took the lead in the 14th minute with a stunning long-range shot by Federico Valverde following a Luka Modric corner.
Vinicius Jr sealed the win in the 73rd minute with an unstoppable strike into the top corner from outside the box.
Ancelotti started Kylian Mbappe who had shaken off a thigh issue after appearing only in the second half in Real’s disappointing display against Lille.
The star striker, who was omitted from France’s squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures, had a quiet outing as his team ground out a victory.
Real are second in the standings on 21 points, three behind leaders Barcelona, who beat Alaves 3-0 away on Oct 6, thanks to a first-half hat-trick by Robert Lewandowski. REUTERS, AFP
