Not even Brahim Díaz's absence due to injury was enough. Arda Güler failed to emerge among Real Madrid's starting eleven or even make an appearance during substitutions.
In Vigo, Ancelotti preferred to use Ceballos rather than the young Turkish star. The goal was to defend the 1-2 score in the final minutes of the match at Balaidos.
Arda Güler Becomes Impatient
Arda Güler is losing patience, mainly because, when playing for the Turkish national team, he shines at the level of a world-class player.
Güler has given himself until the end of the year to make a decision on his immediate future. But he won't have to wait until Christmas. If he didn't appear among Real Madrid's starting eleven with Brahim injured, his chances will be even less when the Spanish-Moroccan joins the team again.
But Arda is calm: He's still determined to succeed at Real Madrid and is convinced that he'll achieve it. He doesn't want to leave the Bernabéu. Instead, he only wants a loan until the end of the season to show Ancelotti that he can trust him.
Ancelotti Has a Problem with Güler
The Italian coach has a problem with Güler. While his technical quality puts him above the average of the Real Madrid squad, he doesn't like the way he defends. Such an issue doesn't have an easy solution.
Güler left Balaidos very disappointed. During the final minutes, Real Madrid just had to stagnate the game by playing around with the ball: their speciality. But Ancelotti didn't see it that way and didn't let him play a single minute.
The worrying thing is that, in the 10 games he's played for Real Madrid this season, he's played 291 minutes. In three of them (Betis, Atlético and Celta), he hasn't played a single minute. In his national team, conversely, he's already played 352 minutes.
This explains why he hasn't scored a goal or provided an assist this season. Things don't seem to be improving for him with the return of Brahim, who does have the coach's blessing.
In Türkiye, fans are hitting the roof: The flagship of Turkish soccer is vegetating on Real Madrid's bench.
His defensive shortcomings are his downfall. Ancelotti accepts that Vinícius and Mbappé will be freed from defensive duties to be fresher in attack. But the team's balance doesn't allow for three players not to defend.
Mourinho's Fenerbahce Goes After His Loan
His problem is also that he can't play where he's most productive in Türkiye: as a midfielder. That is Bellingham's position, which is untouchable for Ancelotti.
His former club Fenerbahce, now managed by José Mourinho, is working to secure the player's loan until the end of the season. Fenerbahce is fifth in the Turkish league, but one game and five points behind the leader Galatasaray.
Istanbul is convinced that, with the return of Arda Güler, Fenerbahce could aim to win the league title. Mourinho is trying to get Florentino Pérez to sign him on loan.
The president of Real Madrid has asked for time. The decision must be made by Ancelotti and, if things don't change, Güler's loan to Fenerbahçe could be settled before the end of the year.
It would be a loan without an option to buy because Real Madrid continues to firmly believe in the quality of its player.