Guler is proving his worth at Real Madrid.
Not Vinicius, but Arda Guler has emerged as Mbappe’s perfect partner in Los Blancos’ attacking “dance.” At least in these early weeks of the season, the pair have consistently been at the heart of Madrid’s game plan.
Coach Xabi Alonso seems to have discovered the perfect link between the silky left foot of the Turkish talent and the lethal right foot of the French superstar. Mbappe and Guler keep finding each other, combining fluidly to form Real Madrid’s most dangerous attacking weapon at the moment.
Early in the match against Sociedad, Mbappe’s burst of pace created a golden chance for Guler to finish from close range. However, VAR’s semi-automated offside technology ruled that Mbappe was just half a step ahead of the defender, disallowing the goal.
When Madrid were reduced to 10 men and under immense pressure from Sociedad, the duo struck again. Mbappe showed great skill on the byline and cut the ball back for Guler, who — surrounded by defenders — calmly slotted home to make it 2-0, giving Alonso’s men the advantage and confidence they needed.
After a period of waiting and frustration, it’s clear that Guler is maturing in a Real Madrid shirt. From being a rotational option, he is now becoming a genuine starter. This transformation began with a change on the bench.
Carlo Ancelotti is a legend of the game, but last season at the Bernabeu he seemed past his peak, and Madrid needed a breath of fresh air. Florentino Perez recognized this and knew exactly who could bring that change — Xabi Alonso.
Alonso’s arrival has been like a gust of fresh wind. He has restored belief not only among fans but also among players, especially Guler. Although he never publicly complained about Ancelotti, Guler openly admitted he wanted more playing time — and Alonso has granted him that wish.
Even more telling is the decision to part ways with Luka Modric — a living legend. Perez knew that as long as Modric stayed, Guler’s breakthrough would be limited.
Once that space opened up, Alonso seized the opportunity. As a result, Guler has started all four La Liga matches this season, compared to featuring in just 37% of games last season. The outcome? Two goals and one assist in four games — almost matching his entire tally from last year (three goals).
Of course, this is just the start of both the season and the Alonso era. But it’s obvious that the Spanish coach places complete trust in Guler — and the young midfielder is repaying that faith with increasingly impressive performances.
When Jude Bellingham returns from injury, there will inevitably be questions about who gets benched. But with the way Guler is playing right now, it will be hard for Alonso to drop him from the starting XI.
For now, Guler is living the dream of any young player: starting every match for Real Madrid — and more importantly, making the most of the opportunity to prove he belongs.