Real Madrid are reported to have parted company with chief medical officer Niko Mihic over concerns regarding injuries to several players dating back to last season.
The Croatian doctor is believed to have had a relationship with president Florentino Perez and Croatian players past and present, Mateo Kovacic and Luka Modric, for over a decade. He then joined Madrid on a permanent basis six years ago in 2017.
However, that tenure appears to have become strained and has subsequently ended.
The problems that summer signing Arda Guler has experienced since joining in a high profile transfer from Fenerbahce seem to be the straw that broke the camel's back.
Marca has reported that Mihic was initially of the opinion that the teenage starlet wouldn't need surgery after suffering a knee problem during the club's pre-season tour. It had been been hopd that staff could manage the problem, but they had to make it public when Guler was sent to Spain for treatment. Eventually, it was decided that would have to be surgery.
The bigger issue with regard to Guler, who is still to make his Madrid debut and was ruled out again for Saturday's La Liga win over Valencia after taking a place on the bench for the two previous games against Rayo Vallecano and Braga, is suffering setbacks that have continued to delay him.
It is suggested that the various problems Guler has encountered is responsible for causing division between the different branches of Madrid's medical and physiotherapy department.
Guler is not an isolated case, it seems, with Karim Benzema, who has since left the club, David Alaba and Dani Ceballos experiencing similar muscle-related issues in the last year or so.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Real Madrid sack chief medical officer.