Vallejo’s Last Stand: Injury Crisis Opens Door for Real Madrid’s Forgotten Man

The lights at the Santiago Bernabéu have dimmed on Real Madrid's hopes of European and domestic cup glory this season. With their UEFA Champions League campaign terminated and the Copa del Rey slipping through their fingers, Los Blancos are now clinging to their final lifeline of silverware: the La Liga title. But even that path comes riddled with complications—most notably, a battered and depleted backline that has left the Spanish giants scrambling for defensive options.

And out of this chaotic vacuum emerges one of the club’s most improbable protagonists: Jesús Vallejo. Once an afterthought, long buried under the weight of more glamorous names and shinier prospects, the 28-year-old center back now finds himself in the strange position of being Real Madrid’s most experienced healthy defender. It’s the ultimate irony—the club's most persistent “benchwarmer” might finally see the spotlight, if only briefly, before riding off into the sunset.

The Injury Epidemic: A Decimated Defense

The past week has been nothing short of brutal for Real Madrid’s medical staff. On May 1, Relevo broke the news of three critical injuries, each requiring surgical intervention, compounding an already dire situation. First, Antonio Rüdiger underwent a partial lateral meniscus removal. If all goes well, he could return in time for the FIFA Club World Cup in June. Next came David Alaba, whose torn medial meniscus in the left knee puts an end to his league season—though there’s hope he’ll be fit for the Club World Cup as well. Finally, Ferland Mendy, the team’s most reliable left-back, required surgery for a torn proximal rectus femoris tendon. He’s out of the Club World Cup entirely.

This trio joins long-term absentees Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal, neither of whom has been seen in competitive action in months. The result is a defensive roster so thin it barely qualifies as a rotation: Lucas Vázquez (a converted winger), Fran García, youth product Raúl Asencio, and Vallejo. That's it. Four defenders. One title to protect. Five games remaining.

The Reluctant Survivor: Vallejo’s Unlikely Persistence

Jesús Vallejo is not a name that inspires headlines at Real Madrid. In fact, his mere presence has often been a source of confusion and bemusement among fans and pundits alike. Vallejo has played just 10 minutes of football this season. Not 10 minutes in a single game—10 minutes across the entire 2024–25 campaign. His role has long since morphed from professional athlete to high-performance spectator.

Yet Vallejo’s story is more complex than it appears. Over the years, Madrid’s management has repeatedly attempted to offload him. The coaching staff made it abundantly clear: there would be no minutes, no future, no opportunities. Still, Vallejo refused to budge. He declined loan moves, turned down mid-table suitors, and stuck to his contract like industrial-grade epoxy. He became the club’s dingzihu—a squatter of the elite game, refusing to pack up while the walls crumbled around him.

And now, after years of irrelevance, Vallejo is on the cusp of unexpected relevance.

Preparing for the Unlikely: The Warm-up That Won’t End

According to Relevo, Vallejo has already begun appearing more regularly—not in starting XIs or match reports, but in a far subtler, symbolic way: warm-ups. Against Getafe and in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, Vallejo was spotted along the touchline, jogging, stretching, and shadowing drills with the energy of a man preparing for war.

He never entered the field, of course. But the ritual of readiness alone marked a departure from seasons past. And with only five La Liga matches left—and literally no one else available—Vallejo’s chances of actual minutes have never been higher. His contract is set to expire in June, and both parties have already agreed there will be no renewal. But between now and then, this could be his curtain call.

The Bigger Picture: Desperation Dressed as Opportunity

Real Madrid’s current crisis doesn’t just create chances for Vallejo—it exposes the club’s deeper reliance on short-term fixes and heavy workloads. With fixture congestion, aging veterans, and a long injury list, this is a roster that has walked the tightrope for too long. Normally, when one defender goes down, two more are ready. But this season, the dominoes fell too fast and too hard.

In this chaos, Vallejo's situation has evolved from comedic to critical. What was once a “roster bug” is now a potential defensive anchor—an alarming indictment of the team’s depth and planning. And yet, it would be disingenuous not to acknowledge the personal resolve that brought Vallejo to this moment. When everyone, including his own coaches, wrote him off, he stayed. He trained. He waited. And now, he might finally play.

The Final Five

The endgame is here. Real Madrid have five La Liga matches remaining to seal the title and restore a sliver of glory in a season defined by disappointment. Whether Vallejo starts, comes off the bench, or merely continues his sideline calisthenics remains to be seen. But unlike every other moment in his Madrid career, this time he’s not an afterthought—he’s a necessity.

He may never reach the heights once projected for him. He may never be remembered like Ramos or Varane or Pepe. But for this brief window—these final two months—Jesús Vallejo is not just surviving. He’s part of the plan.

Commentary

In a sport obsessed with rising stars and instant legends, Vallejo is the rare reminder that persistence, patience, and professionalism still have value. He didn’t force a move. He didn’t complain publicly. He stayed, waited, and now—ironically, as Real Madrid flounders—he might get the send-off no one ever imagined. His story isn’t one of brilliance, but of endurance. And sometimes, that’s enough to matter.