Daniel Carvajal nears return for Real Madrid

After the team booked their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals with a gritty win at Atletico Madrid, where the injured full-back was seen cautiously celebrating with his mates, the good times rolled on with a dramatic comeback victory against Villarreal in La Liga.

Now, the Madrid faithful have even more to cheer about, thanks to an Instagram Stories snap from Carvajal himself. The photo shows him ditching the trainers and lacing up his football boots, a sure sign his recovery is picking up pace.

The nightmare began on 6 October 2024, when Carvajal suffered a brutal injury during a clash with Villarreal's Yeremy Pino.

After clearing a ball, the collision left him crumpled on the pitch, and the Bernabeu held its breath. In obvious pain and with tears in his eyes, the right-back was stretchered off, leaving fans fearing the worst.

Fast forward five months, and after Real Madrid locked horns with Villarreal again, Carvajal is finally glimpsing daylight at the end of a long, tough tunnel.

A return this season might still be a stretch, but his progress has been rapid. "He's showing the heart of a lion," a club insider has said, summing up the growing belief in his comeback.

On X, the excitement is palpable, one fan wrote, "Carvajal in boots again? Unreal news! #HalaMadrid," while another chimed in, "Dani's fightback is top drawer, can't wait to see him tearing it up again."

For Real Madrid, their warrior's spirit is a massive boost as they charge through a packed schedule.

READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool will 'bounce back' after Carabao Cup heartbreak