Real Madrid News
Real Madrid concerned over the performances of injury-prone veteran star
Last night, Real Madrid were completely outplayed as Barcelona beat them 3-1 to win the Spanish Super Cup. Carlo Ancelotti’s men looked devoid of any intensity and ideas in Riyadh and naturally, concerns are growing within the fanbase after the lackadaisical performance.
While reports suggest that Real Madrid are calm over the situation and retain total confidence in the manager and the players, a report for MARCA (h/t Madrid Xtra) claims that the Merengues are growing concerned over the performances of Dani Carvajal.
The 31-year-old right-back has been a permanent fixture in the right-back slot for years at Real Madrid, but has had fitness issues over the past couple of seasons.
While the Spanish international started the new season without any fitness problems but the injuries have started to crop up again and it has clearly affected his performances.
Last night, the veteran right-back was outclassed by a teenager in Alejandro Balde, who, along with Gavi, ran rings around Carvajal with utmost ease.
The Real Madrid right-back had just returned from an injury, having missed the Villarreal encounter due to a muscle overload. Whether he was rushed back into action or not, the Spaniard’s performance was a matter of concern.
Meanwhile, his understudy, Lucas Vazquez, is not even a natural right-back. While he may have done the job when needed, the winger-turned-defender might not be the solution for big games. Furthermore, he is also currently out with an injury.
So, it goes without saying that Real Madrid will have to bring in a new right-back come summer or at least consider making the signing of Vinicius Tobias permanent. The youngster has done well for Castilla, but Ancelotti continues to overlook the young Brazilian.
With Vazquez’s injury and Carvajal’s form, Tobias could get a chance in the coming weeks and it will be interesting to see whether the youngster is given a shot in the senior team.
Arda Guler’s Real Madrid stint has not gotten off to the start he would have hoped to have given the expectation that preceded the transfer.
Having joined in the summer after Real Madrid outbid their competition to win him over from Fenerbahce for a 20-million-euro fee, buzz was high as the winger was expected to slot into the team quite seamlessly, albeit on a rotational basis.
Unfortunately for the 18-year-old, he has been constantly marred by injuries since completing the move.
Reports have stated that after Guler picked up his third injury since his move, Real Madrid have been concerned and want to take things slow with the player to ensure he is fit as soon as possible after an injury to his quadriceps this time.
The Turk is yet to make his competitive debut for the club, and Real Madrid even sacked their medical chief in November, in light of their injury crises since the beginning of the season.
No loan deal for Guler
However, according to Fabrizio Romano in a recent YouTube video, he states that Madrid maintain full trust and patience in the youngster.
Despite his bad luck with injuries, the latest of which he is scheduled to return from after Christmas, the Galacticos have no intention of loaning out Guler to Turkish clubs despite lots of speculation of them doing so of late.
Romano states that Madrid remain firm on not shaking things up too much with the squad, and they want to keep their roster stable, including Arda Guler.
They want to extend their full support and protection to the player as he aims to return to full fitness and finally make his bow for Madrid either by the end of this month or in 2024.
