Arda Guler suspension opens door for Real Madrid’s club-record signing to earn first start under Mourinho

Arda Guler suspension opens door for Real Madrid’s club-record signing to earn first start under Mourinho Yan Diomande has spent more than a month at Real Madrid, but the club’s record signing is still waiting for his first start under Jose Mourinho. The 19-year-old winger has featured in all four league matches since his arrival, yet his involvement has been limited to just 83 minutes.  In fact, he has not completed half an hour in a single game and has so far been restricted to short appearances from the bench. According to AS , Real Madrid do not view Diomande’s slow introduction as a setback.  Rather, patience is the key word, with Mourinho deliberately taking his time while another player has unexpectedly strengthened his claim for regular football on the right. Diomande waiting as Guler shines Arda Guler has emerged as one of Real Madrid’s early-season successes, starting three of the four league games.  Arda Guler has made the most of his chances. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) Brahim Diaz started the other, leaving Diomande competing for opportunities in an increasingly crowded position. So far this season, Real Madrid’s club record signing has played 26 minutes against Espanyol, six against Real Sociedad, 25 against Malaga and 26 against Real Betis. That leaves him with only 23% of Real Madrid’s available league minutes, and not a single appearance from the start. Mourinho has repeatedly urged calm when discussing the teenager, insisting the transfer fee should not dictate his treatment. “Relax, he has to take it step by step. He’s played all three games… umm … 20 minutes, 15, 30… he’s played all three games. He works well, very hard. “I can’t focus on his transfer fee. I have to focus on the young player with great potential that he is, with a season of top-level football under his belt, in the Bundesliga and with Leipzig.  Diomande is yet to start for Real Madrid. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) “Calm down. Because normally, when you talk about a number that big, you’re talking about someone who arrives and blows everyone up. That’s not the case,” said the manager. Champions League could change everything The situation becomes more interesting ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League opener against Inter.  This is because Guler and Bernardo Silva are suspended , removing two players who would ordinarily be ahead of Diomande in the pecking order. Eduardo Camavinga is also unavailable, while Aurelien Tchouameni and Thiago Pitarch are still recovering, limiting Mourinho’s options; this means either Brahim or Diomande could be asked to operate on the right. There is also the possibility of a tactical adjustment, including a double-right-back system, but Diomande now has a genuine opportunity to force himself into the manager’s plans.