Real Madrid is facing a challenging situation following Dani Carvajal’s knee injury, leaving manager Carlo Ancelotti to decide whether to rely on a youth academy player or turn to the transfer market for reinforcements.

Loren Aguado, a promising talent from Castilla, has emerged as the top candidate to fill the void. Born in 2002, Aguado is considered the most prepared player in terms of physicality and tactical awareness, making him the ideal choice to step in during Carvajal’s absence.

Aguado’s well-rounded skill set, including solid defensive abilities and support for the attack, has generated optimism about his potential contribution. Though he may not be expected to feature heavily in matches, his involvement in training sessions and possible call-ups could provide much-needed depth to the squad.

However, there remains some skepticism within the club’s youth setup, as Ancelotti has often been criticized for not fully utilizing academy players in the first team. Despite this, Aguado’s involvement in pre-season and his positive reports from within the first-team dressing room have raised hopes that he could be trusted to step up.

Should Real Madrid pursue a long-term solution like Trent Alexander-Arnold in the summer, they may decide against looking for a short-term fix during the January window, with Aguado potentially becoming a key option in the interim.