NOT PLAYING SINCE AUGUST, DORTMUND ADMITS PLAYER'S BACK INJURY

Real Madrid watches Gündogan's back

On 14th August, Ilkay Gündogan played his third official game of the season. After exploding onto the European scene, leading Dortmund to the Champions League final, the young German midfielder had guaranteed himself starter status in his team.

After having just won the German SuperCup against Pep Guardiola's Bayern, Gündogan was playing a friendly game for Germany against Paraguay. The player felt a sharp pain in his spine and had to be taken off.

500 days have passed by since then and the Dortmund midfielder has not played a single minute. Although at the beginning, the player was only expected to be out for six weeks, his recovery is proving to be taking a lot longer, with his reappearance being postponed again and again. At Dortmund, they admit that the player has a back injury, but are unwilling to go into details.

Real Madrid is looking on not without concern. 'Los Blancos' have an agreement with the German club, with Real having a first-buy option with preferential treatment in the summer, as well as having a verbal agreement with the player regarding his contract. Now, of course, 'Los Blancos' will put the player under the microscope before putting pen to paper.