Arda Guler, Real Madrid player
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
One month into the new season, Real Madrid may not have much to show for it in terms of performance, despite signing multiple new players in the summer transfer window.
But there have been promising sparks here and there, including the performances of Arda Guler, who is really making strides in his bid to become a key player at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Recent reports indicated that Real Madrid have been impressed by Guler’s performances and are ready to hand him a renewal that will seal his long-term future at the club.
Why Real Madrid want to renew Guler
As reported by Bernabeu Digital, Guler’s numbers this season go a long way to explaining why Real Madrid are so keen to extend and improve his deal.
Arda Guler, Real Madrid player
Arda Guler has been impressive this season. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
The Turkish international leads the entire squad in a host of attacking metrics, despite ranking only tenth in minutes played.
He tops the team for chances created with 28, big chances created with eight, and completed crosses with 14, while his expected assists rating of 3.01 is also the best in the squad.
For a player who has featured for just 346 minutes so far, those figures are remarkable, and they reinforce exactly why Real Madrid view him as a genuine talent worth building around.
A huge impact in limited minutes
Perhaps the most interesting and compelling part of Guler is the gap between his game-time and his output.
The 21-year-old simply does not need vast amounts of playing time to be among Real Madrid’s most productive players.
Arda Guler of Real Madrid
Can Guler become a first-team regular? (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
He has already registered two assists this season, placing him joint-second in the squad, and has completed seven successful dribbles to go with his creative numbers.
That efficiency has not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff, with Guler consistently making a difference whenever called upon. His ability to unlock defences and create high-quality chances offers Real Madrid a creative dimension they have often lacked.
With competition for attacking places fierce, Guler faces a battle for regular minutes.
However, his sparkling output suggests it may only be a matter of time before he becomes a first-team regular.
For now, tying him down to a long-term deal is a clear priority for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid insiders raise major concern over player attitude under Mourinho: ‘Exactly the same as last year’
Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid player
Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images
Real Madrid’s defeat to Atletico Madrid has reignited concerns inside the club that Jose Mourinho may be facing the same problems that undermined the team last season.
According to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, some sources around Real Madrid believe the attitude within the squad has barely changed despite the arrival of a new coaching staff.
That is particularly troubling given what Mourinho inherited.
Real Madrid finished the previous campaign without a trophy for the second consecutive season, while dressing-room tensions contributed to a turbulent year and ultimately Xabi Alonso’s departure.
Madrid’s midfield problem is becoming impossible to ignore
One of the concerns raised inside the club is the lack of authority in midfield.
Real Madrid were unable to establish control against Atletico, and that issue has led to comparisons with Barcelona’s current midfield options.
A source close to the situation pointed specifically to the “lack of control in midfield” and “attitude of the players” being “exactly the same as last year.”
Bernardo Silva of Real Madrid
Real Madrid insiders have voiced their concerns. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
The same source then made a striking comparison with Madrid’s biggest domestic rival, saying,
“You see Rodri playing for Barcelona and it’s exactly what’s missing here. This international break is going to be incredibly long.”
It is a particularly revealing assessment because Mourinho’s appointment was supposed to address precisely this kind of problem.
The Portuguese coach arrived after a season in which the team struggled to consistently impose themselves in high-octane matches.
The Atletico defeat offered little evidence of that changing, as even before Dean Huijsen’s red card altered the contest, Real Madrid had struggled to dictate the game or create enough danger.
Refereeing is not the answer to Madrid’s bigger questions
The reaction to the derby has also followed a familiar pattern, as the officiating became a major talking point, with Real Madrid’s official television channel also criticising the decisions.
But there is a recognition within the club that focusing exclusively on refereeing risks missing the bigger sporting issue.
Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid manager
Mourinho has a huge task ahead of him. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)
Another source summed up that concern bluntly: “The problem with the referees matters less than the problem with the football.”
Notably, the club has already experienced the consequences of unresolved internal problems.
Now Real Madrid are fourth after seven league matches, six points behind Barcelona, although it is crucial to understand that this does not mean the Portuguese coach’s project can be judged after seven league matches.
But it does explain why the reaction to this particular defeat has been so strong.
Real Madrid did not bring Mourinho back merely to change the name on the dugout. The expectation was that he would restore control, intensity and a stronger collective identity.
If the concerns coming from inside the club continue, Mourinho’s biggest challenge may be changing a mentality that some around Madrid believe has survived the managerial change.