Arda Guler, Real Madrid and Turkiye player
Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images
Turkey are having a very difficult time on the international stage following a difficult World Cup, losing 4-1 to Italy in the Nations League.
Despite a painful night for Turkey, Real Madrid midfield star Arda Guler produced an individual attacking performance that stood out.
Turkey were already three goals behind before half-time after strikes from Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Frattesi and Michael Kayode.
Baris Alper Yilmaz pulled one back after the restart, only for Francesco Pio Esposito to quickly restore Italy’s three-goal advantage.
Guler refuses to disappear
Despite the difficult circumstances, Guler remained heavily involved throughout the match.
The 21-year-old recorded 100 touches, more than any other player on the pitch, while completing 62 of his 70 passes for an 89 percent success rate.
🚨🇹🇷 Arda Güler against Italy:
• 90 minutes played
• 100 touches
• 62/70 passes completed
• 4 dribbles completed
• 11 duels won
• 27 carries
• 2 recoveries
• 1 interception. pic.twitter.com/Cv63JyTiW4
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) September 28, 2026
More importantly, he kept trying to make things happen. Guler completed a match-high four dribbles and attempted four shots, also the highest figure on the night.
He won 11 of his 16 ground duels, showing an encouraging willingness to compete even as Turkey struggled collectively.
Those numbers show a player who refused to hide even when the match was going badly for his side.
Another encouraging sign for Real Madrid
Guler has increasingly shown that he can be more than a technically gifted player waiting for the ball in attacking areas.
His influence is growing because he wants possession repeatedly and is becoming comfortable carrying responsibility for progressing attacks.
The 100 touches against Italy underline that development. There is another angle to producing those numbers in a losing side.
Arda Guler, Real Madrid and Turkiye player
Arda Guler faced a heavy defeat against Italy. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)
It is easier for a creative midfielder to look impressive when his team controls the match. Guler was doing a more difficult job.
Guler has started the season really well under Mourinho, and his form has seen him keep Yan Diomande out of the right-wing position.
His international performances have further reinforced that form, and he looks set to be an important part of Mourinho’s plans going forward. The club are also thinking along the same lines, with a new contract renewal on the cards.
Last night’s display was yet another step in the right direction from the Turkey youngster, and it remains to be seen whether he can help his nation return to winning ways in the coming games.
Manchester City superstar’s potential arrival could force Real Madrid into huge Vinicius or Mbappe decision
Erling Haaland #9 of Norway
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Erling Haaland could potentially become available in 2027, and this would present Real Madrid with an extraordinary opportunity.
However, signing the Manchester City striker would create an enormous question: what happens to Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe?
According to Bernabeu Digital, the possibility of Haaland moving to Madrid could increase if Manchester City receive a severe punishment in their ongoing case.
However, accommodating the Norwegian could ultimately require Los Blancos to part ways with either Vinicius or Mbappe.
The attraction is obvious. Haaland would give Mourinho something his current superstar pairing does not naturally provide: an elite, specialist No. 9 who wants to occupy central spaces.
Mbappe has produced outstanding goalscoring numbers through the middle, but his natural tendency remains to drift towards the left.
Erling Haaland of Manchester City
Real Madrid could find Haaland as an opportunity next summer. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Vinicius wants that same territory, creating a positional overlap that Madrid have already experienced this season.
Haaland would remove that ambiguity. He plays through the centre, allowing Madrid to build around a fixed reference point with genuine width around him.
Haaland’s existing relationship with Jude Bellingham from their Borussia Dortmund days could be another useful factor.
The most complicated issue would be finding the right balance for the rest of the attack.
Neither Vinicius nor Mbappe is realistically suited to becoming a rotational player.
Playing Haaland centrally while accommodating both could simply recreate Madrid’s existing structural problem, particularly because Vinicius and Mbappe are most dangerous when attacking from the left.
Thus, the only way Madrid can make this work is by selling one of Mbappe or Vinicius, despite both being on long-term contracts.
Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr of Real Madrid
Bringing in Haaland would likely mean sacrificing one of Mbappe or Vinicius. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
Vinicius would currently appear the more plausible departure, with the Brazilian failing to hit the heights of his previous seasons.
The other thing that needs to be kept in mind is that the possibility of Haaland becoming available is hypothetical at this stage.
Manchester City will surely appeal the charges and, even then, the extent of the punishment they may receive is not clear.
Signing Haaland still seems a far-fetched dream, and Los Blancos can focus on the repercussions if and when the transfer starts looking more realistic.