Arda Guler has savagely hit back at Dominik Szoboszlai, labeling the Liverpool midfielder 'a joke' following their fiery encounter in Hungary and Turkey's UEFA Nations League tie. The Turkish star's side clinched promotion to League A with a resounding 6-1 aggregate victory, simultaneously relegating Hungary to League B.
During the win in Budapest, where they triumphed 3-0, Guler notched the second goal and controversially celebrated by making a shush gesture directed at Szoboszlai. The Reds' playmaker couldn't resist taking a swipe at the young Real Madrid talent via social media. In a cheeky Instagram comment beneath a snap showing him silenced by Guler's gesture, Szoboszlai slyly penned '1088', poking fun at the mere 1088 minutes Guler has played for the colossal Spanish club this term.
He's often been sidelined in Ancelotti’s star-studded squad. Unfazed, Guler has clapped back fiercely through his own Instagram story, reposting the same image but with biting sarcasm.
Adding to the picture where he's shushing Szoboszlai, Guler wrote: "This guy is a joke. Isn't 6 goals enough to shut you up?" To rub salt in the wounds, the forward subtly edited the scoreboard graphic on the shared photo, reports the Liverpool Echo.
It was edited with the match’s 3-0 outcome and highlighting his goal while sarcastically crediting 'Szoboszlai, 1 Instagram comment' to Hungary’s scoreline, a clear jibe at the Liverpool man’s online antics.
Despite Szoboszlai not outperforming Guler internationally, he was part of the Liverpool team that triumphed over Real Madrid with a 2-0 victory last November. Guler started one of his seven games this season at Anfield but was substituted after 56 minutes, shortly after Alexis Mac Allister scored for Liverpool.
Whether Szoboszlai will retaliate and prolong the ongoing verbal spat between the two remains to be seen. The Hungarian has enjoyed an impressive season with Liverpool, who sit 12 points clear atop of the Premier League.
Having scored seven goals and assisted six more across all competitions, the midfielder has surpassed his goal contribution tally from his debut campaign in Merseyside last year.