Dani Carvajal has offered advice to Real Madrid's Arda Guler after the youngster suffered yet another injury setback.
Madrid fended off interest from Barcelona to secure the services of 18-year-old Guler from Fenerbahce during the summer for a reported €20m (£17m). While much was expected for the highly gifted creative midfielder, Guler is yet to make his debut for his new club due to a myriad of injury concerns.
Guler's first injury occurred during a pre-season trip to the United States, with a meniscus rupture suffered in training eventually requiring surgery. Just after being given the green light to return to action, Guler suffered a thigh strain in September which kept him out of action for a month.
Then, once again when expected to finally make his debut, the attacking midfielder was struck down by another muscle injury - one which will see him miss one month of action.
Following a frustrating first few months at the Santiago Bernabeu, manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted that Guler had been left frustrated by his recent bad luck.
"It's normal that a player is affected, he's new here, he wants to contribute to the team," the Madrid boss said. "With an injured player it's always difficult. You're here at [Madrid's training ground] Valdebebas, your teammates train and play and you don't.
"His sadness and anger is quite normal. There's no hurry. Arda Guler's future is here and he'll do well, he has an extraordinary talent."
Veteran full-back Dani Carvajal, speaking to El Pais, has also been keen to reassure Guler, revealing advice he's given to him following his recent setback.
"I have approached him to encourage him," Carvajal said. "[I told him] to be calm, that this is a process, that sometimes the body has to adapt, and to do everything in his power to come back stronger.
"I spoke from experience, I told him: 'You are not alone, you are not the only one this has happened to'."
Carvajal has also endured numerous spells on the sidelines during his time at Real Madrid, missing a whopping 158 games for both club and country due to various injury concerns - recently missing two games in September thanks to a muscle strain.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Dani Carvajal offers advice to Arda Guler after injury setback.