Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo fear Real Madrid teammate could take playing minutes away from them this season: Reports
Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo are among Real Madrid players who are reportedly worried that Arda Guler could take minutes away from them in the near future. The Turkish player missed a big chunk of last season with a muscle injury.
The club spent a reported €20 million (plus add-ons) to sign Guler from Fenerbahce last season. He only managed 12 appearances across competitions in his debut campaign, but he made a huge impression in that time, scoring six goals.
Guler featured in five of his team's last six league matches, indicating that Carlo Ancelotti wanted to give him much-needed minutes before the new season. He also started down the right flank in his team's 1-0 pre-season friendly loss against AC Milan earlier this week.
According to El Nacional, Ancelotti is pleased with what he has seen from Guler, 19, in recent weeks. Moreover, Mbappe, Brahim Diaz, and Rodrygo apparently hold a fear that the Turkish player could take playing time away from them this term.
There is also belief inside the dressing room that Guler could become a star at the club in the future. Mbappe arrived in a blockbuster free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this summer.
With the club finally finding a replacement for Karim Benzema, it is safe to assume Mbappe would start regularly. Vinicius Jr. is also one of Ancelotti's prized assets, so it could come down to Rodrygo, Guler, and Diaz for the third spot in attack. Jude Bellingham also showed last season he is more than capable of playing higher up the pitch.
It is worth noting that Rodrygo wasn't just a passenger in Real Madrid's La Liga and Champions League double last term. He made 51 appearances across competitions — the second-highest in the team — and registered 17 goals and nine assists.
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe still on leave after Euro 2024 exploits
Real Madrid will play against Barcelona on Saturday (August 3) as part of their tour of the United States of America. As was the case in the match against AC Milan, Kylian Mbappe won't be a part of the team.
A report by 90min states that Mbappe is still on leave as part of his off-season break following France's semi-final run at the 2024 UEFA Euros. He is apparently set to miss the entirety of Madrid's tour of the USA and make his Los Blancos debut against Atalanta on August 14 in the UEFA Super Cup.
Mbappe, 25, is widely regarded as one of the very best players in the world right now, and he comes to Madrid with a reputation for scoring goals. He registered 256 goals and 108 assists in 308 matches during his seven years at PSG, winning seven Ligue 1 titles in the process.