LONDON, England, June 30, 2025 – As Real Madrid put together to face Juventus within the Club World Cup on Tuesday (20:00 BST), it seems one rising star is already a key determine for brand spanking new boss Xabi Alonso.
Nicknamed ‘the Turkish Messi’, Arda Guler struggled to stay as much as the hype final season beneath Carlo Ancelotti, however the 20-year-old is having fun with a contemporary lease of life following the arrival of the Italian’s substitute.
BBC Sport examines the rise, fall and resurgence of a participant blessed with sufficient expertise to turn into one of many world’s greatest.
2024-25: Guler’s misplaced season
This time final 12 months, Guler seemed poised to take a pivotal position within the regeneration of Real’s midfield.
The former Fenerbahce starlet had completed his first season in Spain in fantastic model, scoring six objectives in simply 10 La Liga appearances to assist his workforce’s title triumph.
Guler additional impressed at Euro 2024 for Turkey, most notably with a aim of the match contender as he showcased his easy method by curling dwelling a delicious 25-yard strike against Georgia.
Right then, he appeared able to observe within the footsteps of Real team-mates like Vinicius Jr, Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga: teenage recruits from overseas who had been signed for his or her enormous potential and shortly blossomed into key performers.
But it didn’t occur. Instead, 2024-25 changed into a misplaced season.
Ancelotti not often trusted Guler in large video games, together with his lack of significance underlined when he was an unused substitute for each legs of Real’s Champions League quarter-final exit to Arsenal.
Guler completed the season with lower than 1,800 minutes performed in all competitions – the squad’s second-lowest tally (other than long-term harm absentees) – to spark hypothesis he could search to revive his profession by leaving Madrid.
But then got here Ancelotti’s departure, Alonso’s appointment, and to this point no person has benefited greater than Guler.
Replacing Modric within the center?
Part of Guler’s drawback in establishing himself beneath Ancelotti was uncertainty over his greatest place.
The teen flitted between a central position and the right-wing berth that he occupied throughout his early days – which additionally gave rise to the comparisons with Lionel Messi, for his capability to chop inside and shoot or create together with his cultured left foot.
Guler himself has acknowledged a choice for taking part in inside, the place he has extra alternatives to the touch the ball and affect play.
Alonso agrees, stating the participant “must be near the ball”, and deciding on him in that position for Real’s final two group video games – victories over Pachuca and RB Salzburg – with Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos and Brahim Diaz left on the bench.
Granted his want, Guler responded with a pair of fantastic performances. After netting the second aim in opposition to Pachuca he was additionally instrumental in downing the Austrians, finishing extra passes than some other participant throughout his time on the sector.
In each these video games, Guler was changed halfway by way of the second half by Modric. It felt symbolic: the previous grasp relegated to the position of understudy, tasked with defending the power reserves of the person who has taken his place.
Modric will go away Real instantly after the Club World Cup, with AC Milan his doubtless vacation spot. Current proof suggests Alonso has changed him already.
Quality, mentality and ‘large issues in retailer’
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira is amongst these satisfied Guler will turn into a world celebrity – and he is aware of higher than most.
The Portuguese gave Guler, then simply 16, his debut with Fenerbahce in 2021, and recollects he was instantly conscious of the teen’s uncommon capability.
“He jogged my memory of James Rodriguez once I coached him on the age of 19, just lately arrived at Porto,” Pereira instructed Spanish newspaper Marca final week. “They are two gamers with distinctive expertise.
“He [Guler] was a boy amongst males, however each time he acquired the ball he discovered the ultimate move. And if he made a mistake, he requested for the ball again to attempt once more.”
Pereira doesn’t consider the comparability with Messi has a lot benefit, as an alternative agreeing with the participant himself – and apparently Alonso – that he must be given the central midfield position beforehand occupied by Modric.
“I all the time noticed him extra as an eight or a ten due to his capability to unbalance opposition between the strains,” he added.
“He’s clever, he appears for options earlier than he receives the ball, he can play lengthy or brief, he could make the ultimate move or shoot from lengthy vary.
“He understands the sport and all the time needs to know extra. I can undoubtedly see him enjoying as an alternative of Modric.”
And the difficulties encountered by Guler final season have achieved nothing to dampen Pereira’s expectations of his former participant’s potential.
“Coming to Real Madrid, with so many top-quality gamers, isn’t simple,” he concluded. “But he’ll discover his place. I’ve little question his future has large issues in retailer. He’s obtained the standard and mentality to turn into a most important protagonist.”
Less than a month into Alonso’s reign, that course of is already unfolding.
And if he shines within the last-16 tie in opposition to Juventus, it could be one other signal Guler is able to take the soccer world by storm.
