Turkey’s national team coach, Vincenzo Montella, recently spoke about Arda Guler’s situation at Real Madrid, shedding light on the challenges faced by the young talent.
Guler, who joined the Spanish giants in 2023, was touted as a player with immense potential. However, his journey in Madrid has been far from smooth, with limited opportunities to showcase his abilities in the first team.
Montella said that one of the primary reasons behind Guler’s move to Real Madrid was his desire to compete at the highest level.
Montella is hopeful
“Arda tried to find an opportunity to play in a team where the competition is at a high level,” he began saying, as quoted by Ajansspor.
Montella believes the youngster has shown improvement in his attitude and character. He remains optimistic that Guler will eventually earn more opportunities at Real Madrid.
“We have seen that he has improved. He has improved a lot in terms of attitude and character.
“He has learned to fight and compete. I think Arda will have more opportunities to play for Real Madrid from now on,” he added.
Tough time for Guler
Struggling for minutes. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
So far this season, Guler has made 16 appearances in all competitions for Real Madrid. However, his game time has been minimal, with just 486 minutes on the pitch.
This averages out to only 30 minutes per match, a stark contrast to the expectations that accompanied his arrival.
During these appearances, he has managed to register only one assist, a statistic that does not reflect his true capabilities.
Breaking into the starting XI has proven to be a difficult task for the youngster. Real Madrid’s deep roster of talented players means every spot on the team is hard-earned, and the Turkish prodigy has struggled to cement his place.
Additionally, Carlo Ancelotti’s reluctance to fully trust him has further hindered his progress.
Despite these challenges, Guler, for whom Madrid have rejected multiple offers, continues to shine on the international stage.
At just 19 years old, he remains a key figure for the Turkish national team, delivering strong performances whenever called upon.