Although the right-back isn’t usually in the news at Santiago Bernabeu, he has had a huge impact on Los Blancos thus far in 2023–24.
With a shout of joy, Dani Carvajal tore off his shirt and leaped into the crowd. Just seconds before, Santiago Bernabeu, a reserved, tense arena, erupted. And with good cause. Their right-back, of all persons, had just scored the game’s winning goal in the hundredth minute to cap off an incredible comeback against Almeria, the bottom-place team in La Liga.
Carvajal’s response was an uncharacteristic outburst from a player who has built his career on maintaining composure. Yes, he is an intense football player, but he also maintains composure, grits his teeth, and grinds through the full 90 minutes. But on Sunday, he let go and let out an eruption of jubilation befitting a long-serving club employee who had just scored the game-winning goal.
It was a far cry from the Carvajal of half a year prior. There were understandable doubts regarding his long-term fit at the club as recently as July 2023. Carvajal was steadily deteriorating on both ends of the field and dealing with injuries. For a player who was close to thirty, leaving appeared very much possible.
Off-season modifications
When news broke in 2021 that the full-back had made one significant adjustment—giving up gluten—after suffering through an injury-plagued season, Carvajal became the target of lighthearted internet mockery.
Though it appeared strange that a player who had so frequently suffered from muscle strains could just cut out bread and pasta from his diet to address all of his problems, there was science involved in the choice. Wheat, potatoes, gluten, and several fruits and vegetables can all cause mild inflammation of the muscles. That Carvajal’s straining muscles could be affected by a small nutrition adjustment seems implausible in a game of peak performance.
Nevertheless, it was successful. He participated in just 13 La Liga games during the 2020–21 campaign, but the next year he played in 24. Should he maintain his current level of fitness, he ought to play 30 games this season.
Carvajal acknowledged that, at least on paper, his choices seemed strange. He admitted to The Athletic in 2022 that “the diet is a little bit weird and strict, but it’s something that suits me.” “And whatever benefits me… For example, suppose I have to eat broccoli all day long.
However, the Spain international has benefited from other changes as well. After club captain Karim Benzema left for Saudi Arabia last summer, Madrid saw a change in the team’s leadership core this season. Furthermore, Los Blancos required a third player in their leadership group, even though Nacho was always the favorite to take over as permanent captain, with Luka Modric serving as his vice.
Then along comes Carvajal, who returned the group to a trio in June. Since then, he has donned the armband nine times already this season, with neither Modric nor Nacho guaranteed a spot in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting lineup.
The Athletic claims that Carvajal has felt more at ease since returning to the team of his childhood pal and brother-in-law, Joselu, indicating that new additions have also been helpful. All of it comes down to a player who feels more at ease taking on greater responsibility.
.Making a tactical switch adjustmentGiven the evolution of Carvajal’s role, these modifications are timely. Ancelotti’s tactical adjustments this season have drawn a lot of attention. To maximize the play of Ballon d’Or front-runner Bellingham, the Madrid manager is now using a midfield diamond. But the midfield hasn’t been the only area affected by the system change; the entire team has had to adapt.The two wingers Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo in particular have been instructed to act like split strikers by tucking inside. And while both do stray wide to give Bellingham room to operate in the middle, it’s clear that the forward players aren’t providing enough offensive width, especially down Rodrygo’s right.Ancelotti has requested that Carvajal provide that choice in response. As a result, he is always Madrid’s most advanced player, excitedly executing stiff touchline runs. Carvajal’s transformation is evident in the statistics, as FBRef shows that he is now in the 87th percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area and in the 96th percentile for progressive passes received among all full-backs worldwide this season.This is the kind of change that would seem dangerous to apply to a 32-year-old with a sporadic history of injuries. Carvajal, however, has been virtually invariant, missing only a few games in September due to a minor calf ailment.
Effect on both sidesCarvajal’s offensive statistics demonstrate his influence further up the field as well. In all competitions, he has already assisted on three goals and scored four goals this season.These contributions have also been quite important. In order to salvage a point on the road against Sevilla, he scored his first goal of the season in the important equalizer. His second goal, a forceful thump with his weaker foot, broke the tie and helped him defeat Valencia 5-1. Then, in the thrilling 5-3 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa semifinals, he scored and provided an assist.Carvajal most recently emerged as a hero in Madrid’s highly contentious 3-2 victory over Almeria. The goal was theoretically scored by a striker; it was a deft volley from a close range that slipped past the sprawled goalie. Madrid cannot avoid to drop points with surprise league leaders Girona going so well, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Carvajal’s late intervention on January 21 is looked back on as a key moment in the title race come May.Nor has his influence lessened on the opposite end. Carvajal is winning his ground duels at the greatest rate of his career and winning 1.26 tackles per ninety minutes. More simply put, Madrid is a stronger team with him on it. When Carvajal is on the field, they often score more goals and allow less goals.
Accepting accountabilityAll of this is made more significant by Madrid’s lack of depth in Carvajal’s position. While Lucas Vazquez is a decent backup, his forced inclusion in the starting lineup has shown him to be a clear weakness. When the two teams met in September, Vazquez’s side of the field scored all three of Atletico Madrid’s goals as Los Rojiblancos easily defeated their city rivals. It was clear that Atletico Madrid was targeting him. Given that Vazquez is a converted winger with a contract that expires at the end of the season, it is impossible to attribute any of this to him, but it does highlight how crucial Carvajal is to Ancelotti’s team.A deeper look at the depth chart also shows a dearth of choices. Nacho may play at right-back, but for the time being he must provide cover in the middle owing to knee injuries that both David Alaba and Eder Militao suffered ended their seasons. The Brazilian full-back Vinicius Tobias of Real Madrid Castilla is another option, but he hasn’t made an impression on the starting lineup thus far; his lone appearance came in December during the Copa del Rey matchup with third-division Arandina.Long-standing rumors have stated that Madrid wants Reece James to be their right-back going forward, but given Carvajal’s comeback, it may be significant that these discussions have slowed down recently.
An upcoming contract extension?Although Carvajal is only 32 years old, his form this season implies he can continue to contribute at the highest level at least until his current contract expires in 2025, even if Madrid will probably be searching for a long-term replacement soon.Madrid may even think about extending that contract; but, as players reach their 30s, they usually wait until the last minute to make these kinds of decisions so they are fully aware of what they are getting into.Carvajal is expected to be in demand if they decide not to retain him around past the end of the next season. The Saudi Pro League, the MLS, and other regions in Europe are expected to show interest in signing him. Not many full-backs come around these days, but one of the most reliable and productive of the last ten years still has the ability to adapt and succeed in his advanced age.About eighteen months ago, some would have wondered if Carvajal had a season like this in him, and there were even cries for Madrid to let him leave at the time. But if it weren’t for their unsung hero, they wouldn’t be in such a strong position now to maybe win three trophies at the conclusion of the season.
