Why is Arda Güler not playing for Real Madrid against Braga in the UEFA Champions League?

Arda Güler’s long-awaited debut for Real Madrid is getting closer by the day, although we’re going to have to wait a little longer to get our first glimpse of him in a white jersey, with the Turkish international not named in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League group stage game away to Braga.

What injury has Arda Güler had?

There had been a slim chance of the 18-year-old being involved in the game in Turkey after he came through a week of full training unscathed following a recent thigh problem. After joining the club from Fenerbahçe in the summer, Güler’s first appearance for his new employers was initially put back after he was forced to undergo minor surgery having suffered a knee injury on the pre-season tour of the United States.

After recovering from that issue, he had been pencilled in to play against Las Palmas on 27 September, only to break down again on the eve of the LaLiga match.

Rather than risk the same thing happening again, Ancelotti and his coaching staff want him to be at 100% fitness before he starts playing, which means he hasn’t been considered for the trip to Portugal and will almost certainly not be thrown in at the deep end in Saturday’s Clásico against Barcelona.

When could Güler make his Real Madrid debut?

A more realistic proposition is for him to begin playing in the first team in November, which Los Blancos will begin with three home matches against Rayo Vallecano (5 November), Braga (8 November) and Valencia (11 November) before the final international break of the year.