Real Madrid's season has received a heavy blow after the injury of their first-choice right-back, Dani Carvajal. During the match against Villarreal last Saturday, Carvajal suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury, which will keep him out of action for the rest of the season. This situation has forced the coaching staff, led by Carlo Ancelotti and Florentino Pérez, to make quick decisions to cover this important loss.
A Hard Blow for Carlo Ancelotti and Florentino Pérez
Dani Carvajal has been a key player on both the defensive and offensive levels. His ability to attack, along with his experience, make him a difficult player to replace. However, after the incident that occurred in the final minutes of the match against Villarreal, his right knee got at risk, which set off the alarms at the Santiago Bernabéu. The images of his injury and his cries of pain made it clear from the start that it was something serious, with the subsequent confirmation of a torn cruciate ligament.
This type of injury is devastating for any footballer. Dani Carvajal will face a recovery process of at least 9 months, according to the most optimistic forecasts. This amount of time out will be difficult for both the player and the club to handle.
Carlo Ancelotti's and Florentino Pérez's plan
Given the situation, Carlo Ancelotti has taken the initiative to suggest solutions to Florentino Pérez. One obvious option is to take advantage of the talents that the club already has in its youth division. The name of Jesús Fortea, a promising youngster from La Fábrica, has begun to sound like a natural alternative to cover the right-back spot.
Being only 17 years old, Jesús Fortea has excelled in the youth ranks of Real Madrid, and many see him as a long-term successor to Dani Carvajal. His technique, speed and game vision make him a very interesting project.
The Other Alternatives of the Market
Despite the confidence he has in Jesus Fortea, Carlo Ancelotti has also expressed the importance of securing a reliable replacement in the short term. Real Madrid have names such as Reece James (Chelsea) and Pedro Porro (Tottenham) on their radar, two top-level players who could fill the vacancy left by Dani Carvajal.
However, negotiations will not be easy, and although its interest is real, the club will also consider less expensive options, such as the loan of a player in the winter transfer window.