Carvajal confirms ACL injury as he signs new deal
Dani Carvajal has promised to "come back like an animal" after he sustained a serious knee injury in Real Madrid's 2-0 win over Villarreal that has likely ended his season.
Carvajal had to be taken off late on in the LaLiga meeting and the 32-year-old and the club have since confirmed he will have to go under the knife.
"Serious cruciate ligament injury confirmed, I'll have to undergo surgery and be off the field for a few months," Carvajal posted on his Instagram account.
"Looking forward to starting the recovery process and coming back like an animal. Thank you all for your messages, I feel very loved."
After the match, Carlo Ancelotti said: "It looks like a pretty serious knee injury, the dressing room is sad and worried.
"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.
"I've been talking to him and he's sad, but there's not much we can do. We are going to see the medical evaluation and think about him recovering. The doctor has told us that he has to do tests, but that it's a knee injury."
Asked how he may replace Carvajal in Madrid's starting XI, Ancelotti said: "We have Lucas Vazquez, but it's not the time to talk about this.
"We are going to wait and if the injury is serious we are going to manage the squad well and see who we put in this position. It will not be me."
Carvajal would have been cheered up when Madrid offered him a contract extension, which he has signed to keep him at the club until June 2026.
Carvajal's contract was due to expire at the end of the campaign. He has already been with Los Blancos since the age of 10, and has won six UEFA Champions League titles and four LaLiga crowns during his time there, while amassing 427 appearances.
