Dani Carvajal is one of Real Madrid and Spain’s most decorated and experienced players, but could we be witnessing the beginning of the end for him at the Bernabeu?

The 34-year-old right-back has been in and out of the starting line-up this season when he has not been injured. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s signing from Liverpool last summer also seemed to represent a succession plan.

Comments from head coach Alvaro Arbeloa this week have now further fuelled speculation in Spain about Carvajal’s future, with the club captain’s contract set to expire this summer.

Here, The Athletic’s Real Madrid reporters Guillermo Rai and Mario Cortegana explain what’s going on around a player who joined Madrid as a 10-year-old back in 2002. Apart from one season at Bayer Leverkusen during 2012-13, he has spent his entire career at the club, a 23-year association.

The article contains information gathered from several well-placed sources, who each asked to speak anonymously as they did not have permission to comment.

Why is Carvajal such a hot topic in Spain?

After Alexander-Arnold started over Carvajal in Real Madrid’s 2-1 win against Alaves on Tuesday, Arbeloa was asked in a press conference whether he would help the 52-cap Spain international make his country’s World Cup squad for this summer’s tournament in North America.

Carvajal, who was a key player in the Spain team that won the 2024 European Championship, was left out of coach Luis de la Fuente’s last squad in March, the first since his return from a knee injury in early January. “Carvajal and others like (Alvaro) Morata know they have to keep working and afterwards show it on the field of play,” De la Fuente said in a press conference at the time.

Carvajal has played the full 90 minutes just twice since coming back from his injury. With Madrid out of every competition apart from La Liga, and trailing Barcelona at the top of the table, Arbeloa was asked whether Carvajal would be given some precious gametime, with a view to forcing his way into De la Fuente’s plans again.

“I have 23 players,” Arbeloa replied. “Any Real Madrid player has options to go to the World Cup and, if you allow me, I’m going to think about what’s best for my team.”

All of this has led to significant debate in the Spanish press, with many commentators suggesting Arbeloa was being disrespectful and perhaps even insensitive towards Carvajal, a Madrid legend who came through their academy and has made 447 appearances over 13 seasons. There is a much celebrated photo of Carvajal, aged 12, laying the ceremonial foundation stone for their training ground, accompanied by the legendary Alfredo di Stefano.

It brings to mind a similar situation from Madrid’s past. Arbeloa was one of Jose Mourinho’s staunchest defenders during the Portuguese manager’s divisive time in charge from 2010-2013 — when Mourinho fell out with then-captain and Spain icon Iker Casillas.

That caused a great deal of division in the press and between fans, and there is a feeling this continues to shape the way those who were involved at the time are viewed in Spain by the media and supporters.

During Mourinho’s spell as manager, Casillas was accused of being too close to the press, and the same has been said of Carvajal now, something his camp strongly deny.

Has there been previous tension between Arbeloa and Carvajal?

Yes, stemming from Carvajal’s lack of involvement after his return from his latest right knee injury.

On January 4, Carvajal was cleared to play after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on that knee issue in October 2025, having previously suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in October 2024. Carvajal spent five consecutive La Liga matches on the bench between early January and early February, the first of those with previous coach Xabi Alonso in charge.

That was compounded by doubts, both within the club and among those close to the player, over his long-term future — largely due to those injury problems. But sources close to Carvajal told The Athletic at the time he was beginning to feel better. He travelled to London on February 5 with new head of medical services Niko Mihic and team-mate Antonio Rudiger for a specialist review of his knee, which returned positive results.

However, Carvajal again did not play in the 2-0 win away at Valencia four days later — the fifth league game in a row — as academy graduate David Jimenez started at right-back, before being replaced by Alexander-Arnold.

After the game, footage captured by The Athletic showed Carvajal in a visibly frustrated exchange with head fitness coach Antonio Pintus.

In the week of Madrid’s following match against Real Sociedad, Spanish outlet Marca reported that Carvajal and Arbeloa held talks to clear the air.

“When someone isn’t happy… they come to the grey sofa,” Arbeloa said at his next press conference, in an attempt at easing the tension. “Sometimes they come to me, other times I call them. That’s what really matters to me, more than any leaks that might come from different quarters.”

The next day, Marca’s front cover reported that Carvajal would start against Real Sociedad with the headline ‘from the grey sofa to the starting XI’. This was not the case, however, and Carvajal only played the final 30 minutes after replacing Alexander-Arnold.

Another curious detail is that Arbeloa and Carvajal were team-mates at Madrid. Carvajal joined the first team after being re-signed from Leverkusen before the 2013-14 season and eventually took Arbeloa’s starting spot. At the end of 2015-16, Arbeloa left to join West Ham for his final campaign as a player.

What do those close to Arbeloa and the squad think?

Arbeloa’s view is that Alexander-Arnold is ahead of Carvajal in the pecking order and that he must make the best decision for the good of his team — not just for the sake of a particular player or national team.

Alexander-Arnold is facing his own race against time to try and make it to the World Cup with England, having been left out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad in March. The 27-year-old has also struggled for form and fitness this season, making 25 appearances in all competitions.

Arbeloa and Carvajal, pictured during the Copa del Rey defeat by Albacete in January (Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

A source at Madrid’s training ground told The Athletic that Carvajal’s struggles have become evident in day-to-day training sessions when defending against forwards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

There is also a sense from that source that Carvajal could have behaved in a way more befitting of a captain at times. Those close to Carvajal say he has always worked quietly and professionally and has tried to lead the group even when he does not play, whether due to selection decisions or injury.

Carvajal was praised for speaking at an internal meeting called by Arbeloa on Sunday, asking players for commitment for the rest of the season and beyond.

What about Carvajal’s side?

Following Arbeloa’s remarks, sources close to Carvajal said the coach’s words were a mistake and that “his true colours showed”.

Carvajal’s frustration largely stems from feeling he is ready to play more. He was happy with how he felt on the pitch when he played the full 90 minutes against Girona earlier this month.

Sources said there would be a feeling of regret over leaving the club in these circumstances, after such a long association with the club.

Carvajal hasn’t felt a strong connection with Arbeloa. For that reason, they believe that were the club to stick with him as coach — which is considered a highly unlikely scenario at present — it would not help the defender’s situation.

What can we expect to happen next?

Sources close to the player say Carvajal is still waiting for the club to make an approach to discuss his future.

They see it as unfortunate that he may have to leave after a second season in which Madrid have not won any major titles, and he wants to first hear what the club’s leadership have to say before making a decision.

Over the past two seasons, members of the coaching staff under Carlo Ancelotti and Alonso pointed to a lack of leadership in the dressing room as a problem.

With the likely exit of David Alaba — also considered to be a leader given his experience and influence — that issue would be further aggravated by Carvajal leaving.

Senior club sources plan to address the situations of both Rudiger, whose deal is also set to expire this summer, and Carvajal in the coming weeks. But Carvajal’s lack of playing time compared to Rudiger makes an extension difficult for now.

If he leaves the Spanish capital, Carvajal has several options on his mind, although he would not want to join a team competing directly against Real Madrid at this point.

Among the options being considered, a possible move to Saudi Arabia or another Middle Eastern country appeals more than MLS, even if the tense situation in that region means clubs based there are unlikely to be as active in the transfer market this summer.

In the short term, his goal is to get playing time and prove to De la Fuente that he deserves to be called up this summer.