Real Madrid News
Real Madrid full-back could be out for a month with hamstring injury – report
Real Madrid booked their place in the semi-finals of the Copa Del Rey by beating Atletico Madrid 3-1 in a tense contest.
However, the win came with its own costs, as Ferland Mendy, the club’s primary option at left-back, had to be subbed off around the half-time mark. It looked like the Frenchman had picked up a hamstring injury, with Carlo Ancelotti bringing on Eduardo Camavinga to replace him.
Journalist Sergio Valentin has now confirmed Mendy’s injury, adding that the left-back could be out for a month.
This will serve as a major blow for Ancelotti, who now has two of his key main full-backs on either side out injured. Dani Carvajal is currently serving a muscle injury and has not played for Real Madrid in La Liga since the turn of the year.
In addition to first-choice options, Real Madrid also have their backup options at full-back out injured. On the right-hand side, Lucas Vazquez was ruled out on the sidelines earlier this year, whereas David Alaba, too, is nursing a muscle problem.
This leaves Ancelotti with very few options in the full-back department, with the Real Madrid coach notably being forced to deploy Camavinga at left-back against Atletico Madrid.
While the young midfielder did a rather good job in his new position, Mendy’s injury could bring up a conversation about bringing in a new left-back in this ongoing January transfer window.
Fran Garcia, in particular, has been a target for Real Madrid, who even have the option to re-sign him from Rayo Vallecano. There were talks of Real Madrid exercising the option and loaning him back to Real Valladolid, but it appears that the deal will be done only in the summer.
But it will be interesting to see whether Mendy’s injury can alter their thoughts and force them to bring back Garcia to Santiago Bernabeu this month.
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.
