Presented as a great hope for football, Arda Güler is struggling to establish himself as an undisputed starter at Real Madrid. Before the Intercontinental Cup final against Pachuca, a voice rises against the talented Turkish player.
Having chosen Real Madrid when he was announced to join FC Barcelona, Arda Güler made a heart-driven choice. The young Turkish attacking midfielder's first season was disrupted by injury, but towards the end of the campaign, he showed what he was capable of with thunderous performances. He even scored several goals at the end of the season.
Called up with Turkey for Euro 2024, Arda Güler made a big impression and left his mark on the European Championship. However, since the start of this season, the former Fenerbahçe star has struggled to establish himself as a starter under Carlo Ancelotti. His few matches have shown satisfactory signs, but clearly, observers have been left wanting more, as Arda Güler is normally compared to Lamine Yamal, also known as the Turkish Lionel Messi.
The First Criticisms of Arda Güler
After the match against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, where Arda Güler started again, the young Turkish phenomenon did not truly shine. In a match where Carlo Ancelotti's men struggled defensively, Arda Güler did not show importance against Rayo Vallecano. He even received a score of 5 from our editorial team.
During his collaboration with Cadena SER, Tomas Roncero was very clear about Arda Güler. According to the editor-in-chief of AS, if the young Turkish midfielder is not capable of playing with spontaneity and intensity, he cannot play for Real Madrid.
"I've never seen Güler play intensively. He plays very comfortably. If he doesn't bite, he can't play for Madrid," he said.
He then demanded a defensive transfer in the winter market, as it is out of the question for Carlo Ancelotti to continue lining up Aurélien Tchouameni in central defense.
"Real Madrid lost the first half. After the 3-2, Madrid entered a dangerous point of excess confidence. The team suffers a lot, and in January, they need to recruit for defense. Put him there when Vinícius and Mbappé are not there. It's the best match of Rodrygo this season. He's also in his best position, and he scored a great goal. The other day, the program was rushed because it was a final. Vinícius played more than he should have, and we fear that he might get injured. We're keeping him for Doha (Intercontinental Cup)," added Tomas Roncero.
Real Madrid faces Pachuca this Wednesday in Doha, Qatar, in the Intercontinental Cup final, where Arda Güler will be expected to play a major role if he is lined up by the Transalpine coach.