Dani Carvajal is making headlines again and this time, not because of an absence, but for quite the opposite reason. Real Madrid's right-back is about to leave behind one of the toughest chapters of his career. His journey through the desert, as he himself has described it, is coming to an end.
An injury that hurt more than desired
Everything started with a muscle injury that, at first, didn't seem serious. But the recovery time kept getting longer. Carvajal, a key man for Ancelotti and a leader in the locker room, had to watch from the stands as the team kept moving forward without him.
On several occasions, he was seen frustrated, but always with that fighting look that has defined him since the beginning. "It hasn't been easy," people close to him say. "Every day was a step, although not always forward."
Arnold, the new challenge
During his absence, the club didn't stand still. The arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold stirred things up. The Englishman, with his attacking style and international experience, has sparked debate among the fans: What happens with Carvajal now?
Far from giving up, Dani has taken this new competition as motivation. He knows nobody's going to give him anything. Nobody ever did, not when he moved up from Castilla, nor when he had to go on loan to Bayer Leverkusen.
"Arnold is a great player," Carvajal reportedly said in Valdebebas. "But so am I. And I have history here."
The return is already near
The big news is that Carvajal is already training with the group. He has left the discomfort behind. He feels good, very good, and if everything continues like this, he could be available for the next squad list.
The coaching staff see him motivated, even fitter than before, and the player has taken great care of himself. He hasn't given up for a single day. His goal is clear: to return, compete, and show that he's still one of the best right-backs in the world.
Carvajal, the same warrior as always
"He's going to get out of there," people at the club assure. By that, they don't just mean his injury, but also the personal moment he's going through. The doubts that many have raised about his continuity at the top level.
But Dani is one of those who respond on the field. He was never one for big gestures or grand statements. He speaks with his runs, his impossible crosses, and his grit.
Shocking, Bernabéu will soon chant his name again and he, with the white jersey on his chest, will return to do what he loves most: compete. Because Carvajal doesn't give up. He never has, now less than ever.