Interest in two starlets 

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The January transfer window is edging closer with speculation ramping up about potential moves during the winter market. During the international break, two Real Madrid starlets have dominated the rumour mills due to their lack of game time at the Champions League holders this season.

Arda Güler and Endrick are widely viewed as exceptional talents but both teenagers have been starved for minutes at Madrid. Guler featured in both Türkiye’s games during the international but Endrick was dropped from the Brazil squad due to lack of action at Madrid. Both starlets arrived at Madrid amid huge expectations but their bench roles have led to considerable speculation that they could seek a loan move away in January.

Arda Güler and Endrick’s lack of minutes at Real Madrid

There is a clear difference between Güler and Endrick’s predicaments at Madrid with the Turkish international in his second season at the club. Meanwhile, Endrick only joined last summer and it will naturally take him time to adapt to European football and he must be patient at 18. Madrid have an unrivalled plethora of attacking talent in Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham, with the aformentioned duo clearly slipping down the pecking order this season. Only two Real Madrid first-team stars have played less minutes than Endrick this season and Güler also ranks way down in 17th when analysing which players Carlo Ancelotti has handed the most game time to – as illustrated in the graphic below.

Ivan Fuente, Transfermarkt’s La Liga expert, explains: “Ancelotti has been criticised for not giving enough minutes to young players. Madrid has a roster of world-class strikers, so it is very difficult to find a place among them for Güler and Endrick. Ancelotti has the ‘problem’ that Mbappé and Vinicius play in the same position, so the Frenchman has to play up front. How wouldMbappé react if, in addition to not playing in his favourite position, a youngster with no experience in Europe takes his No.9 position away? On Güler, Rodrygo is a top class attacker who understands his role in Ancelotti’s plans very well and the Turkish star may not yet have the ability to be what Ancelotti wants.”

Arda Güler’s Real Madrid role analysed

Güler’s frustrations are more pronounced than his teammates as he’s more established in European football and it’s his second season at Madrid. The 19-year-old excelled at Euro 2024 with Türkiye, providing three goal contributions across five games, but he’s been unable to build on that momentum since returning to Madrid. Remarkably, as the graphic below illustrates, Güler has played 275 minutes more for Türkiye than Madrid since joining the Spanish giants from Fenerbahce in July 2023.

Legendary Turkish manager Mustafa Denzili coached Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas plus the national team and he claimed this week that Güler looks unhappy in Madrid.“Arda has shown immaturity in his performance,” Denizii said. “It’s normal because he’s not in the same condition as when he went to Real Madrid. He doesn’t look happy there. We know that he has enjoyed few minutes and opportunities, but his rivals in the dressing room have stepped up their performances.”

Endrick’s Real Madrid role analysed

After Madrid secured his signature from Palmeiras for €47.5m in December 2022, Endrick eventually joined in the summer after turning 18. Due to his rapid emergence, the striker earned comparisons to legendary Brazilians Pele and Ronaldo. Endrick was widely regarded as one of best emerging talents on the planet but he’s only played 122 minutes for Madrid. Admittedly, Endrick possesses exceptional competition to start up front but the young star hasn’t lived up to expectations since joining from Brazil.

Could Endrick or Arda Güler leave Real Madrid on-loan?

It remains highly unlikely that either Guler or Endrick will be allowed to leave Madrid in January, even on a temporary basis. Ancelotti’s squad isn’t that strong in depth and both are likely to be handed sufficient game time with Madrid competing in several competitions. However there has been strong speculation regarding the duo, with Arsenal emerging as a potential destination for Güler to leave on loan. There’s similarities between Guler’s predicament and that of current Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who failed to establish himself in the Spanish capital.

Endrick has been linked with Borussia Dortmund and Roma but the Brazilian is Madrid’s only natural striker providing back-up to Mbappe. Fuente believes it’s impossible that either leave in January on loan, adding: “As young players, they probably should find a team where they play a lot of minutes in Europe, but Real Madrid are in so many competitions this season and the squad is not that deep.”