Carlo Ancelotti has faced heavy criticism this season, with one major point of contention being his limited opportunities for young talent. Despite impressive performances in brief appearances, Arda Guler and Endrick Felipe have seen minimal playing time, while Castilla defender Raul Asencio was once again overlooked in favor of Aurelien Tchouameni over the weekend.
Speculation has frequently surfaced about Endrick potentially leaving on loan to gain more playing time, but Ancelotti has consistently dismissed these rumors. He reiterated his reasoning, explaining why both Guler and Endrick have only featured sparingly this season.
“Endrick stays here, just like Guler,” he said. “They may need more minutes, but I don’t have any prejudices with anyone. I only try to put the best players out there for each match, regardless of whether they are 18 or 40 years old. Sometimes, that might mean playing without Endrick or Guler. We need to be patient with young players. They bring enthusiasm, but because they’re young, they also need to learn some things.”
“You have to be patient with young people, yes. They bring enthusiasm but, because they are young, they also have to learn certain things. I have no prejudices with young people: in my career, I have played people who are 17 or 18 years old, if I thought they were ideal to play the games.”
🚨⚪️ Carlo Ancelotti: “Endrick and Arda Güler will NOT leave Real Madrid. They will stay in January”.
“I have no prejudice against the youngsters. I have used many young players throughout my career”. pic.twitter.com/BKKO4Qxz1h
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 9, 2024
Known as the ‘Turkish Messi,’ Guler has impressed fans with his performances for both club and country throughout his young career, while Endrick has earned his place in the Brazilian national team with standout performances this year. However, Ancelotti said that patience is essential for their growth at this stage of their careers.
After heavy defeats to Barcelona and AC Milan, president Florentino Perez was reportedly pushing for increased opportunities for the young duo. Ancelotti has previously stated that his primary focus is on winning matches rather than integrating young players. Since those setbacks, Guler has featured for 288 minutes across six games, more than half of his total playing time, compared to just 16 appearances in the games leading up to them.
Guler and Endrick will both be competing for playing time on Tuesday night as Ancelotti’s side head to Bergamo for a Champions League showdown against Atalanta, last season’s UEFA Europa League winners.
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Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
