Real Madrid News
Key Real Madrid star not guaranteed a starting spot against Manchester City
The absence of Eder Militao was one of the biggest focus points ahead of Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League first-leg semi-final clash against Manchester City.
The centre-back had, after all, been the team’s leader at the back all season and to lose him through suspension for the season’s most difficult game was a big blow.
The Brazilian is now back and raring to go for the second leg at the Etihad Stadium. While he was an undisputed starter in the team a few weeks ago, he now finds himself with a good chance of starting on the bench.
AS reports that Ancelotti is second-guessing his decision to deploy Militao as a starter for the second leg, and two factors are behind his dilemma.
For starters, the combination of David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger did a phenomenal job against Pep Guardiola’s side at the Santiago Bernabeu. The English side’s attack appeared blunt for long parts of the game and Erling Haaland was virtually eliminated from the equation.
The second factor, however, boils down to Militao himself. The Brazilian has not helped himself with subpar performances in recent league games, and doubt unsurprisingly has sprung in the mind of Ancelotti now.
Militao’s bearish period began against Girona when he cut a helpless figure against Valentin Castellanos’ four-goal haul. The situation only worsened from there on.
Against Real Sociedad, Militao gifted the opposition an opening goal just after half-time and hurt Real Madrid’s position on the table. He was exceptional in the recent game against Getafe but that does not appear to change Ancelotti’s mind.
Real Madrid must tread a tightrope to get over the line at Etihad, especially given that they do not have a cushion heading into the second leg. On that front, providing continuity to the working combination of Alaba and Rudiger does not sound like a bad idea.
In a season where Real Madrid have largely struggled to keep pace with leaders Barcelona, Arda Guler has been one of the few bright sparks.
Despite his limited minutes, the Turkish international has shown that he is capable of becoming a first-team regular for Los Blancos, especially at a time when others, including Vinicius Jr. are struggling to make an impact.
Guler was notably named in Real Madrid’s five-player star of the month for September and the player could soon be rewarded with a contract extension as well.
New contract for Arda Guler
According to AS, Guler has agreed terms for a new deal at Real Madrid, in what could be the club’s first major renewal for the new season.
The young Turk’s current deal at the Bernabeu expires in 2029. But the renewal will ensure his future at the club at least until 2031.
The new contract will effectively acknowledge Guler’s growing role in the Real Madrid first-team and include a salary-increase.
The negotiations between the two parties had started last month and has now come to fruition, with Guler more than happy to continue his chapter at Real Madrid.
He also joins a long list of Real Madrid players with long-term contracts, including Yan Diomande, Vinicius Jr., Marc Cucurella, Aurelien Tchouameni and others.
An important season ahead
With the contract likely to be finalised soon, Arda Guler’s main goal will be continue to his form when the season restarts next weekend.
The forward has been involved in four goals in seven matches this season. With Vinicius and Diomande struggling for form, the Turkish international will have an excellent opportunity to become a regular starter for Jose Mourinho throughout the course of the campaign.
Mourinho, for his part, must identify how to get the best out of both Guler and an in-form Jude Bellingham. If the two can somehow work together in the final third, Real Madrid could find themselves dominating most matches.
