Dominik Szoboszlai seemed to take a sly swipe at Arda Guler after the Real Madrid youngster shushed him during their UEFA Nations League playoff encounter. The clash saw Hungary face Turkey in Budapest on Sunday.
Turkey entered the match with a 3-1 advantage from the first leg and ultimately clinched a decisive victory, thanks to strikes from Hakan Calhanoglu, Abdulkerim Bardakci, and Guler. It was Guler who notably silenced Liverpool ace Szoboszlai on the pitch.
A Hungarian news outlet posted a photo of the incident on Instagram, prompting Szoboszlai to respond sharply. His comment "1088" pointedly referenced the total minutes he has played for Madrid across all competitions.
The 20 year old talent transferred to Real Madrid from Fenerbahce in 2023 and, despite making 43 appearances for the La Liga giants, many have been as a substitute. He has netted nine goals during his tenure.
Turkey's manager Vincenzo Montello has commented on Guler's sparse game time at Santiago Bernabeu, expressing confidence that the young star is destined to become a mainstay in the team.
"He is an exceptional footballer. We all know his talent and what he can contribute," he remarked. "It is a well-known and generally accepted trend that players with consistent game time at their clubs are usually selected for the national team. However, we must take a more understanding approach with Arda Guler."
Turkey teammate Calhanoglu offered a different perspective by encouraging Guler to join him at Inter Milan. "Arda is a very important player; he's like a little brother whom I love very much. I would like him to come and play with us-at Inter, although I don't know if this is true.
"I'm not privy to his current situation at Real Madrid, so I hesitate to comment extensively on this matter because, ultimately, he has the best understanding of it, although naturally, I believe and feel he deserves more playing time."
Guler aims to secure a significant role at Real Madrid in the upcoming weeks, as the Spanish giants strive for La Liga and Champions League glory, facing Arsenal in the quarter-finals next month.
Szoboszlai, meanwhile, will need to concentrate on Liverpool's pursuit of the title, with their upcoming clash against local rival Everton after the international hiatus.