The international break is also an opportunity for players who lack playing time with their respective clubs to shine.
Despite a completely crazy schedule over the first three months of the year, Arda Güler isn’t one of the players who has been able to take advantage of it to gain prominence within Real Madrid, and his last two outings have even been considered very laborious.
In this sense, the international break comes at the right time for the young Turk, who, with the national team, is an indisputable asset for Vincenzo Montella. “He’s improved a lot in terms of his attitude and character. He’s learned to fight,” said the Madrid coach.
This season, Arda has started six times in Turkey’s last eight matches played so far over three international breaks (September, October, and November). He has played 528 minutes, which is almost half of his total with Real Madrid in 30 appearances (3 goals, 5 assists).
“He is trying to find opportunities to play in a team where there is a lot of competition,” his coach simply commented to explain why he is undisputed with Turkey and almost invisible in Madrid.
“I don’t want to see a player happy when he’s not playing. I see a player who works, learns, and wants to play. He spends a lot of time with other people. I don’t know if those people have the same idea I have with him,” Carlo Ancelotti emphasized a few weeks ago at a press conference.
These statements alluded to the media hype surrounding the Turk, but only the pitch matters in Madrid, and in this sense, Arda still has a long way to go. Even more so since the arrival of Kylian Mbappé, as the changes to the system are not working to his advantage. At the club, there is still confidence in Güler, but it is clear that he will have to be patient and continue working to achieve his goals.
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