Arda Guler missed out his first opportunity to debut with Real Madrid in their first pre-season friendly against AC Milan. The young Turkish star missed out on the last training session before the match, and coach Carlo Ancelotti decided to play it safe. The team hope he will be on the pitch for the second face-off, this one against Manchester United.

Arda Guler, one of the sensations of the summer for Real Madrid, remained on the bench for the club’s first pre-season friendly against AC Milan. The young star impressed coach Carlo Ancelotti in his first training sessions with ‘Los Blancos’, but he was unable to train in the days leading up the match, and Ancelotti opted on the safe side.

It looks likely that he will make his debut for Madrid when they play Manchester United on Wednesday night. It will be up to the ‘Merengues’ to improve on their 3-2 win over Milan, after they had to pull off a second half comeback, thanks to a double from Fede Valverde and a third from Vinicius Jr in the dying minutes. 

Guler will also have to follow up on a stellar debut from Jude Bellingham, upon whom Ancelotti lavished praise after the match, calling him “extraordinary“. The 18-year-old Turk made the move to Madrid from Super Lig side, Fenerbahce, where he played 35 matches last season. He started 18 of them, and racked up six goals and another six assists, the best of his career thus far.

He had to watch from the bench however as Madrid fought for their win, but will hope to start against United. Carlo Ancelotti could use him as a winger to give shape to the 4-2-2 that he is drawing up this pre-season. He’s not ruled out a return to the 4-3-3 or combining it with the new formation he is working on, depending on the demands of the opposition once the ball starts rolling.