While Real Madrid’s pursuit of Mac Allister may be on hold, Los Blancos hardly appear to be struggling in midfield. Their new-generation engine room, driven by Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Arda Guler, is thriving. Bellingham, in particular, has rediscovered his best form after shaking off the shoulder issues that hampered him last season. He has now scored in three consecutive matches, including the decisive goal in a 2-1 Clasico victory over Barcelona. Many in Spain believe he could once again be a Ballon d'Or contender if he maintains his current trajectory.
Meanwhile, Guler has formed a deadly partnership with Kylian Mbappe. The Turkish wonderkid has notched six assists, all for the French superstar, and has added three goals of his own this term. Former Madrid star Predrag Mijatovic, speaking on Cadena SER, praised the duo’s chemistry: "Arda Guler already has six assists, all to Mbappe. It's a promising partnership, isn't it? Without a doubt. If I were a Real Madrid player, my first choice would always be to look for Mbappe because he offers so many solutions, right? But apart from that, yes, they understand each other very well. He's a young lad who's already starting to look like an undisputed starter, and that's very important for him, but he has to know that at a team like Real Madrid, you have to keep giving more and more. Especially until you win over everyone, right? And I think he's on the right track, but he still has to work harder."