Real Madrid defender did not complete training due to back issue

With the new season less than a month away, Real Madrid finally have the full squad training under Carlo Ancelotti’s command.

The manager hopes to change the team’s fundamental setup for the coming campaign, and the preseason games in the United States give him the perfect environment to test his choices.

It has however not been the start Ancelotti was looking for so far. According to reports from Mario Cortegana, Dani Carvajal did not complete yesterday’s training session due to his back problem. The issue, however, does not appear serious.

The Spanish defender has been Ancelotti’s go-to man at right-back in recent years and is the first choice for the position by quite some distance. An injury so early in the campaign, however, cannot be a good sign.

Los Blancos seriously considered the possibility of bringing in a right-back this summer in an effort to gradually phase out the veteran core. However, the manager’s trust in Carvajal coupled with the team’s cautious spending caused that operation to be postponed.

The Merengues have a reliable backup option in Lucas Vazquez, and the 32-year-old can play at right-back in the pre-season if Real Madrid decide not to risk Carvajal.

At the moment, however, nothing has been announced about the extent of the former Bayer Leverkusen star’s issue and his recovery.

Carvajal made 27 La Liga appearances last season for the Galacticos and provided two assists in the process. Ke averaged 0.8 key passes and over five defensive actions per game and oversaw just one clean sheet in the process.

Los Blancos play their first game in the US on Sunday night as they take on AC Milan at the Rose Bowl Stadium. More clarity on the right-back’s availability for the game is expected in the hours to come.