Is Dani Carvajal’s downfall Real Madrid’s biggest concern?

(Football news) It's not often that Real Madrid are patient with a particular player. The demands of the club are so high that one bad period can force the club to look for alternatives whether it's a player or a manager. Dani Carvajal has been a key player for Real Madrid for almost 8 years now. 

Carvajal has broken every barrier and stereotype in his way at a club which  usually isn't renowned for its academy. He came through the La Fabrica academy but failed to break into the first team. He was shipped off to Bayer Leverkusen for €5 million in 2012 but with a buy back clause. After just one season in Germany, Real Madrid exercised the buy back clause because of the incredible performances by the Spaniard. Since then, he has been a part of the squad that has won 4 UCLs in 5 years. In 2 of those 4 finals, Carvajal was substituted due to injuries.

These injuries have recently become more and more frequent. Since the beginning of 2020, the right back has missed 49 matches from 8 different muscle injuries. All this while Real Madrid's backup right back has been either Alvaro Odriozola who is inexperienced and often looks out of place at this level or Lucas Vazquez who is a natural right winger. Real Madrid have suffered dearly due to the absence of a proper fit right back who consistently gives solid performances. Even when fit the fullback hasn't reflected the form that he has had for so many years consistently. 

Why Real Madrid don't want to sell Carvajal is pretty obvious. Apart from Jesus Vallejo, Nacho and Lucas Vazquez, he is the only other La Fabrica graduate and is one of only 6 Spanish players in the first team squad and is the only one who can be called a first choice player. When fit, he is called up for the Spanish national team as well as manager Luis Enrique recently said that if it weren't for injuries, Carvajal would've been called up to the squad every single time.

Unlike Barcelona, Real Madrid doesn't produce too many Spanish players of first team quality. Recent reports from Madrid say that despite injuries and inconsistencies, the club trusts Carvajal and will not look for a right back. Carvajal's best run at the club came when he had stiff competition from Danilo and right now he doesn't have any subsequent competition. Vazquez is the other right back at the club while Odriozola is on loan and both of them are definitely not good enough to be a first choice.

While selling Carvajal isn't necessarily a solution and could prove to be a mistake but getting a good back up who will push him is an absolute necessity. Pedro Porro is the player who is often linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu. Reece James is another one which is a very long shot. The days when Marcelo and Carvajal used to boss both the wings in defence and attack looks like an eternity ago. Change is definitely needed at Real Madrid and just Kylian Mbappe and/or Erling Haaland won't cut it. Right back is definitely a position which needs someone fresh.

Also read: Here's why Real Madrid should not sign Erling Haaland

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