Arda Güler is destined for a bright future at Real Madrid, and the unfortunate departure of Toni Kroos could further benefit him next season.
Güler’s start at Real Madrid wasn’t easy. The Turkish player, for whom the Madrid club paid around 20 million euros last summer, arrived injured and struggled with minor muscular issues during his first six months, which didn’t help his integration. It also took him some time to find his footing, but the young Madridista’s patience eventually paid off.
In recent weeks, Güler has undoubtedly been the one who benefits the most from the lack of stakes in La Liga. Carlo Ancelotti has rotated his squad, and the former Fenerbahçe player has been playing and scoring consistently. With 6 goals in 12 appearances, he has been the most efficient by certain historical standards, needing fewer minutes than Cristiano Ronaldo and all other players before him to reach this total. He’s simply clinical in front of the opponent’s goal.
Atletico had the edge
Interestingly, Güler’s signing with the Whites wasn’t a foregone conclusion, as Real Madrid was almost the last club to show interest in him. Local press, as reported by Cadena SER on Tuesday, reveals that the Madrid neighbors were just 5 million euros away from signing him back in the winter of 2022… In fact, Güler had a clause in his contract stating that if he played less than 1000 minutes, he could leave for 5 million euros during the winter transfer window of 2022. He had played approximately 600 minutes, so he could have left, and emissaries from Atletico Madrid spent weeks in Turkey until they met with the player at his family home to discuss a transfer.
Unfortunately for them, they didn’t follow through with the process, as Cadena SER explains, and then Güler suddenly raised his game in the second half of the season. In January 2023, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, and Real Sociedad were all interested, then Barcelona took the lead for a while until Real Madrid stepped in.
The call from Real changed everything, and Güler informed other interested clubs that he would play for the Whites, who had promised him immediate integration into the first team, which was part of his conditions. He left around 20 million euros behind for his club and is now embarking on a second season with Real Madrid, where his playing time is expected to increase. “The ball is in love with Güler,” Ancelotti affectionately declared a few days ago, regarding someone who is sure to continue turning heads among the Madridistas.
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