Nuri Sahin: The forgotten footballer

Just where is Nuri Sahin? Are the midfielder’s injury problems still haunting him ever after, or is his absence due to non-footballing matters lying lowly in the pecking order at Bernabeu?

Sahin made his debut in the Bundesliga at just 16 years of age and remains the youngest ever player to feature in the German top flight, he also broke the record as the youngest ever goal scorer netting against Nuremberg in the same season. 

I think he is a very good footballer, but he needed to stay with Dortmund for another season. He made the mistake of joining Real Madrid to early. He had a fantastic season last year, but needed to stay one more and produce that form again. Since being signed for €10 million from Borussia Dortmund, Turkish international, Nuri Sahin has played 364 minutes for Real Madrid in 5 games. To make it difficult for 2011′s Bundesliga player of the year, he has been called up for various games but not been given enough chance.

Nuri Sahin is a midfielder who plays as a playmaker and who has incredible vision, great skill with a great passing range and technique. Sahin always had quality but lacked consistency. His is a dead ball specialist, with an astounding ability to whip in balls from corners or freekicks, and has scored some sumptuous free kicks this season (vs Bayern Munich and vs Werder Bremen).

He would have been a good signing for Manchester United last summer and probably a better move for the player. Madrid often dump players for less than they paid for them. They'd never be able to sell anyone otherwise! Sahin sounds great and if he wants regular football then United would be the place to go, given the current state of our midfield. Sahin’s reading of the game is also exceptional, often winning key interceptions in midfield. Sahin also possesses the work ethic and tenacity required to succeed in central midfield.

Nuri Sahin is just the midfielder that would fit in at OT. He may need to bulk up a little but he does not shy away from a tackle. Apart from Scholes and Carrick and occassionally Rooney, there isn't someone who could pass long. I think he would be particularly important if we were to go on the counter attack. He could easily release Rooney, Kagawa, Welbeck or anyone on the wings with this pin point long passes. I see him in the Xavi mould and although his shooting may not be on par with Scholesy, I think he would be a young, cheap and effective player in our center midfield. He's worth a shout at 12-16M.

What if he joins United ?

Kagawa's possible inclusion at United opens the door to us playing a 4-3-2-1 next season which means Carrick will be partnering another CM who will more than likely be a defensive minded CM. 

Playing both Carrick and Sahin as deep CM's wouldn't solve anything, it would just be like playing Scholes and Carrick, which has worked but its left us so exposed in numerous games this season. 

Not to mention that United and Real's rejects don't go hand in hand. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Sahin went elsewhere for 7m, became the player he was at Dortmund again and then United go back for him in 2 years when his value reaches 25-30m for another club.

Sadly for Sahin, he seems to be a victim of his team’s on-pitch success, as he finds himself currently at the bottom of Real Madrid’s midfield pecking order, behind the likes of Alonso, Sami Khedira, Lassana Diarra and Esteban Granero. Hoping he joins a club where he can atleast get consistent first team football.