Just days after the painful defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, Arda Güler’s standout performance against Celta Vigo gave Real Madrid reason to believe again. A difficult transitional season could have shaken faith in the Turkish youngster’s potential. Instead, his standing as a future Galactico is firmer than ever.
After starring for Türkiye at Euro 2024, Güler might have expected to play a more significant role in Carlo Ancelotti’s team this season. However, the addition of Kylian Mbappé and Endrick limited the youngster’s minutes when Güler would have been a key difference-maker for most other teams in Europe.
Real Madrid, of course, aren’t like most other teams in Europe. Galacticos must earn their place and competition for places is so stiff that Güler found himself behind Rodrygo and Brahim Díaz on the right side. His Man of the Match performance against Celta Vigo, however, suggested Ancelotti should have used him more regularly.
Güler is an all-round threat. Not only did the 20-year-old arrow a powerful strike into the top corner, he threaded through an outstanding pass from deep to release Mbappé in behind to score Real Madrid’s third goal. As a creator and a goal threat in his own right, Güler served a reminder of everything he offers.
The interchange play with Mbappé was possibly the most encouraging thing about Güler’s overall performance. Having Güler on the right side to link up with opened up a new dimension for Mbappé who usually drifts to the left where he can combine with Vinícius Júnior. It was unusual to see him in the right half spaces so often.
Ultimately, Ancelotti has never found the right balance across his forward line. The arrival of Mbappé disrupted the chemistry Real Madrid had developed last season as they won a Liga and Champions League double with Jude Bellingham playing the role of a de-facto number nine from central midfield. With Vinícius and Rodrygo as split strikers, the system worked.
Xabi Alonso, who is widely expected to replace Ancelotti this summer, will inherit the same conundrum. Güler, however, could offer part of the solution. He is the sort of player who could give Real Madrid some much-needed balance.
While Güler’s brilliance on the ball is what makes him so special, he also ranks in the 98th percentile for players in his position when it comes to tackles in the attacking third per 90 minutes (0.69). He also ranks highly for dribblers challenged, passes blocked and tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes. The Turk is proactive in and out of possession.
Ancelotti has been extremely careful not to rush Güler into the Real Madrid lineup. Too careful in the opinion of a lot of Madridistas, although the Italian coach could point to how Güler has started 10 league matches this season and will likely break the 1,000-minute mark, three times as much game time as he received last term.
“I know people in Türkiye want me to play every game for Real Madrid. I do too, but I know I have to be patient,” wrote Güler in a recent article for The Players’ Tribune, referencing the clamour from supporters. “When Ancelotti says that I can become one of the best midfielders in the world, it shows that the club has a plan for me.”
That plan hasn’t always been obvious. Real Madrid’s apparent strategy in recent times has been to stockpile the best young players in the world and develop them to the point they have no choice but to play them. This is what they did with Vinícius and Rodrygo with Endrick another talent who falls into this category.
In the past, Real Madrid would have waited for such players to establish themselves somewhere else before buying them for big money. Increasingly, though, Los Blancos are cutting out the middle step, perhaps motivated by the expensive reconstruction of the Santiago Bernabéu which has impacted the club’s ability to spend in the transfer market. Real Madrid are signing young prospects and free agents.
Nicknamed ‘The Turkish Messi’ as a prodigious teenager at Fenerbahçe, Guler has played with the weight of expectation on his shoulders for years. His home nation expects him to become a superstar, if his performances at Euro 2024 didn’t already make him one. Real Madrid have a similar expectation.
Next season, Güler will likely have the chance to make a fresh impression on a new manager. Alonso, assuming he takes over, will have a different plan for Real Madrid as a team, and Güler as a player. The 20-year-old’s late-season form proves he should still be at the forefront of the club’s future plans.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every Real Madrid game with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.
