Arda Güler's long wait could come to an end this coming Saturday at the Sánchez Pizjuán. The 18-year-old Turkish midfielder was signed this summer by Real Madrid, who paid 20 million plus another ten million in variables to Fenerbahçe. Gúler was injured immediately and has not yet made his debut. His case is the counterpoint to that of Jude Bellingham, who has become the new idol of the white club and one of the sensations of the League.
Since his presentation as a new player in Ancelotti's team, 103 days have passed. Little has been seen of Güler in his training sessions, but the sensations he transmits to the locker room are good. He talks about being in front of a very talented player, with very good vision of the game. Madrid signed him because of his youth and because of the doubts about the continuity of Dani Ceballos. It is about looking for replacements for veterans like Modric and Kroos.
In Madrid, there is concern about the fragility demonstrated so far by Güler, who was already seriously injured during the preseason tour of the United States. Then it was said that he had a damaged meniscus, which is always tricky, but that he could debut in September. In the first two games of that tour (against AC Milan and Manchester United), the Turk was included in the squad, but did not play a single minute.
Although there were doubts about whether or not to operate on the player and it seemed that a conservative treatment was opted for, Güler finally underwent surgery. He spent two months in the dry dock and in the last week of September he appeared again at the Valdebebas training fields.
On September 26, the day before Real Madrid's match against Las Palmas at the Bernabéu, Ancelotti announced that Güler was going to be included in the squad. But it was not like that. In training he suffered another injury, this time to his right leg; the support one because he is left-handed. The diagnosis was a micro tear in the left rectus femoris muscle, with a prognosis of three to four weeks of absence.
Ancelotti's idea is to examine Güler in training this week. If everything goes correctly I could have a few minutes at the Pizjuán this Saturday. The Italian coach is not very given to taking risks, so if he does not see it clearly, he could wait to give the Turk his debut on Tuesday the 24th in Braga on the third day of the Champions League. And he is already confidently aiming for the classic on the 28th at the Camp Nou.
And for such a demanding match it is better for Güler to go at the maximum possible pace of competition. In Madrid you have to catch the trains while they are moving or the opportunity may pass you by. Bellingham has understood this perfectly. But his case is quite exceptional.
