Real Madrid captain Carvajal suffers toe fracture
Dani Carvajal may have played his final game for Real Madrid after suffering a toe fracture, having entered the final two months of his contract.
Carvajal, who has made 448 appearances for Los Blancos after coming through its youth system, will become a free agent at the end of the campaign.
With no announcement over a new deal, his future at the club appears uncertain, particularly as he has endured a pair of injury-hit seasons.
The 34-year-old has been limited to 20 appearances in all competitions in 2025-2026, having only made 11 last term, and he has now suffered another setback.
Carvajal hurt his toe during training ahead of Madrid's trip to Espanyol on Monday (AEST), and the club confirmed he had sustained a fracture the next day.
Madrid's statement read: "After the tests carried out on our player Dani Carvajal by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a fracture of the distal phalanx of the fifth toe on his right foot."
He will likely miss at least two weeks, ruling him out of next week's Clasico meeting with Barcelona, which could see the Blaugrana clinch the title after it won at Osasuna on Sunday (ASET) to open the gap to Madrid to 14 points.
He also looks certain to miss a home game against Real Oviedo on 15 May (AEST) and a trip to Sevilla the next weekend.
Madrid finishes its season at home to Athletic Club a week later, so Carvajal must recover within three weeks if he is to feature before the end of 2025-2026.
Real Madrid must beat Espanyol to stop Barcelona from winning LaLiga before the Clasico, but boss Alvaro Arbeloa claims the prospect of having to give its rival a guard of honour next week is not a motivating factor heading into the Espanyol game.
"My biggest motivation is winning the three points because that's what the team needs, because that's what this badge demands, and it's what we need after the results we haven't been able to get in recent matches" he said.
"That's my biggest motivation. I can't find a greater motivation than beating Espanyol."
Espanyol sits 13th in LaLiga, five points clear of the relegation zone, and without a win in its past 16 matches, which include 10 defeats.
