Hamstring injuries are the kind managers rarely treat lightly. A player can feel close, train in stages and still be one sharp sprint away from a setback. That is why the report’s broader line makes sense: if Guler is not fully ready, there is little logic in using a season finale as a test case.
For Madrid, this is less about sentiment and more about risk management.
The wider selection picture reportedly points the same way. Madrid are said to still be managing several absences, with Eder Militao, Rodrygo Goes and Ferland Mendy unlikely to be involved, while Dani Ceballos is also expected to miss out. There is reportedly better news around Fede Valverde, who could return in time.
That leaves Alvaro Arbeloa balancing two priorities:
A low-stakes finale often becomes a judgment call on what matters most. For Madrid, the answer appears straightforward. There is little to gain from pushing half-fit players, especially younger ones whose development depends on rhythm and availability over the long term.
The next question is whether Madrid can close the campaign cleanly against Athletic Club and head into the summer with fewer medical concerns than they have carried into this final weekend.