Arda Guler injury: Progress & potential return date for Real Madrid signing

One of Europe's most exciting young stars has been condemned to an interminable spell on the sidelines throughout his nascent Real Madrid career.

Arda Guler had been impressing in training since his arrival from Fenerbahce, but that was put to a halt before Madrid's tour of the US had even concluded.

There was a big chase in the transfer market involving Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC Milan for the signature of Guler but Los Blancos were able to convince the teenager and his father that the Spanish capital was the best place for him.

As the club continue to wait for his competitive debut, here is all we know so far about Guler's injury.

What injury has Arda Guler got?

Guler noticed the discomfort in his right knee not long before the pre-season friendly against AC Milan. He tried to continue training through the pain but had to miss the match against Manchester United as well.

The pain got so bad that the decision was made to send him back to Madrid.

It was a considerable blow to a player who must have felt he was on a path to plenty of minutes early in the season for Real Madrid, given how highly rated he is and how well he had done in training since arriving from Turkey.

The prodigious winger had ruptured his meniscus and ultimately required surgery.

Yet, just as Guler threatened to make his debut, he suffered a thigh strain that derailed any progress he had previously made. Dani Carvajal revealed that his junior teammate has been dealing with "sadness and anger" but was quick to comfort the teenager that such feelings are "quite normal".

Ancelotti admitted that Guler was "depressed" by still sitting on the sidelines in November and explained how his muscular issues all stemmed from that initial knee injury. "As often happens," the Italian detailed, "it changes your posture a bit. In the recovery of a meniscus or a knee, you can have muscle problems."

However, Madrid's manager remained optimistic about what was to come for the winger. "Your future? It's the most beautiful. I can understand that it affects you. The future is absolutely not in doubt."

When will Arda Guler return from injury?

Guler was all lined up to return from his knee injury at the end of September before his thigh gave way.

For fear of rushing the teenager back to the pitch too early, an error which Madrid's Spanish rivals Barcelona have repeatedly made in recent history, the capital club let Guler train throughout October without including him in a matchday squad.

Finally, on 5 November - almost five months after his last competitive appearance - Guler made the bench for Madrid's La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano. However, with a tight, goalless game delicately poised throughout the 90 minutes, Ancelotti didn't risk thrusting a rusty Guler onto the pitch.

Not only did Madrid fail to usher in Guler's return, but the Spanish giants watched Jude Bellingham wince through the contest with a shoulder problem. The Englishman joined Guler on the bench for Madrid's Champions League match against Braga three days later. Neither was used in a routine win and both sat out the club's final match before the November international break.

Guler had suffered a relapse of the muscular problem that had plagued him in September, delaying a long-awaited debut even further. Yet to return to full training by the end of November, Guler doesn't have many opportunities left to make his debut this calendar year.

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