Perhaps most alarmingly for Madrid fans, Pekmezci believes this player-power dynamic was the catalyst for the club’s recent managerial upheaval. Xabi Alonso, who took charge following Carlo Ancelotti’s departure but was dismissed in January, reportedly found it impossible to manage these internal fractures.
"That's why Xabi Alonso left too," Pekmezci claimed, suggesting the Basque manager was another casualty of the same "egos" that are now targeting Guler.
The reins have since been handed to Alvaro Arbeloa, but the situation appears to have improved little. Arbeloa, tasked with steadying the ship, has seemingly continued the trend of sidelining the playmaker. During a recent Champions League defeat to Benfica, tensions boiled over when Guler was substituted. He was caught on camera visibly frustrated, muttering to himself as he left the field.