Real Madrid captain’s renewal not a given, must be earned – report

Madrid, Spain – The clock is ticking on Dani Carvajal’s future at Real Madrid. Once viewed as an automatic extension candidate, the 34-year-old club captain now faces an uncertain road to a new contract, with performances between now and May set to decide whether he remains in white beyond the summer, according to a report published by AS.

Carvajal has taken the field only twice for Los Blancos in 2026 despite being named to the squad for every official fixture. Medical staff and management, wary of a relapse, have opted for a conservative approach, leaving the right-back to watch from the bench even though he insists he is fit and eager for a larger role. Club sources hope February will offer more minutes, yet the return to full health of Trent Alexander-Arnold adds another obstacle to increased playing time.

The timing is critical. Carvajal’s current deal expires on 30 June, and while previous assumptions held that Madrid would swiftly reward their long-serving skipper with another season, no negotiations have taken place. The club hierarchy, per AS, will wait until the season’s decisive stretch before determining whether his on-field output still merits a renewal.

A year ago the scenario was markedly different. After a serious late-season injury, Madrid immediately announced a fresh contract, confident Carvajal remained among the world’s elite in his position. That certainty has eroded. The upcoming months are now framed inside the dressing room as a personal playoff for the Spaniard: recapture peak form and fitness, and a new agreement could follow; fall short, and an emotional Bernabéu exit looms.

For a player who has collected every major trophy with his boyhood club, the challenge is clear—earn the right to continue leading the team he has represented for more than a decade.

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