WHO IS ARDA GULER? UNDERSTANDING REAL MADRID’S NEW MECURIAL TALENT

Arda Guler nicknamed “The Turkish Messi” is Real Madrid’s latest addition to their team of future stars, the Turkish international was born in Ankara, Turkey (2005). He started playing at Genclerbirligi in 2014 before moving to Fernabache in 2019, Arda made his senior team debut in the 2021/22 season where he played 12 league games and contributed to 6 goals (3 goals and 3 assists).

Despite his impressive performances he wasn’t involved much because of his lanky frame which people deemed to be a glaring weakness for him in the Turkish league. Fast-forward to the 22/23 season and after the departure of Mesut Ozil he was handed the iconic number 10 shirt and featured more in the first team, he stepped up big time and in 20 league games he played (11 starts) he scored 4 goals and had 4 assists while being Fernabache’s youngest ever league scorer as well as 4 man of the match performances. Guler also played a vital role in helping his team win the Turkish cup with a superb man of the match performance against Istanbul Basaksehir in the final. Guler was so good in the second half of the season that Fernabache fans believed that if he featured more from the start of the season they would’ve won the League, they finished 2nd 8 points off the top.

Guler is a naturally gifted dribbler with his seemingly lanky frame and low center of gravity aiding him, he’s also a very combative player and aggressive presser off the ball. His accurate passing as well as his football intelligence also makes him a very creative player who likes to cut in from the right side onto his stronger left foot. Guler is also very useful and effective on the counter attack but he’s a much more technical player rather than a “road runner”. Various comparisons have been drawn between him and Ozil because of his creativity and wand of a left foot but I also see shades of Kaka in Arda in terms of his close control and pace in his dribble.

Guler is a very versatile player he can play in center midfield, he can also operate on the right side of a front 3 as well as playing behind or off a striker or even as a striker himself but he’s more effective as a 10 or on the right where he can cut back onto his left foot and unsurprisingly most of his goal involvements have come from those 2 positions. Guler isn’t a perfect player however at the age of 18 he still has a lot to learn and unlearn, he tends to back himself too much in terms of his dribbling and he holds onto the ball for extensive periods and sometimes makes the wrong decision afterwards. He also isn't very strong or physical as he sometimes gets knocked off the ball easily by stronger players.

Real Madrid however beat Barcelona to the signing of Guler and they undoubtedly have one of the best players in his age range in the world. It will be interesting to see how Arda fits into the current Madrid set up with Los Blancos having A LOT of central midfielders in their team, but recent reports suggest that Carlo Ancelotti is willing to change Madrid’s shape to a 442 which makes sense because of Madrid’s numerous amount of midfielders. Another beneficial factor is the versatility that Madrid’s squad possesses, players like Camavinga, Alaba, Militao, Rudiger, Valverde, Rodrygo, Brahim Dias and now Guler can all comfortably play in numerous positions which can allow for a variety of shapes and roles.

I have however come up with 2 ways Madrid could line up with a 442 and where Arda would fit in.

In the 442 or 4222 shape above I think Arda would be more effective playing in the RM position (where Valverde is) where he can cut onto his stronger foot or even combine with players around him and be in the first or second line of the press which suits his aggressive nature off the ball. Out of possession the shape can even be dissolved into a 433 and play him as a RCM where he is also comfortable.

In the 442 diamond shape I believe Arda would be able to slot in at RCM (where Valverde is) or play as a 10 behind the front 2 where he can free roam and effect the game more centrally and use his creativity to great effect.

All that being said I don’t think Arda can play as a winger for Real Madrid, he doesn’t have that burst and power that typical Madrid wingers possess but it’ll be interesting to see where he fits in at Madrid next season and beyond.