Arda Güler: Alonso's Brain at Real Madrid
16 October 2025
Rise under Alonso
Arda Güler has become a cornerstone of Real Madrid's squad since the arrival of Spanish coach Xabi Alonso in June, succeeding Carlo Ancelotti.
The Turkish midfielder couldn't cement a starting spot under Ancelotti despite arriving more than two years earlier from Fenerbahçe for 20 million euros.
In Alonso's first season (2024-25), Güler spent many games on the bench, often used as a substitute with few starting appearances.
Despite that, he recorded nine assists across competitions and scored five goals in 1,755 minutes for the Spanish capital club.
From bench to backbone
Alonso's tactical thinking seems to have unlocked Güler. He did not feature in Alonso's early starting lineup, including the Club World Cup opener versus Al Hilal, where he came on in the second half.
Since that moment, his Madrid fate changed: he started in the following game against Pachuca and has since become a core part of Alonso's Madrid.
The Spaniard appears to view the 20-year-old as the on-field brain, entrusted to implement his attacking ideas on the pitch.
In six Club World Cup matches, Güler scored once and set up two, sparking a brighter spell for the capital club in the new era.
Headed into the current season, Güler has established himself in the Real Madrid lineup in most games, missing only one La Liga fixture against Espanyol.
To date, he has appeared in 10 matches this season with three goals and four assists.
Defensively, the youngster has shown clear improvement, pressing high and recovering the ball quickly after loss.
Ultimately, Güler has become one of Alonso's most valuable assets and a model for a generation that blends creativity with teamwork in Madrid's modern setup.
The transfer saga and the road ahead
However, the Derby against Atletico Madrid at the end of September featured a positional tweak, moving Güler to the right wing early to free room for Jude Bellingham in central midfield. He scored and assisted, but Madrid's 2-5 defeat overshadowed the performance.
Transfer talks in the summer of 2023 crowned a major showdown between Real Madrid and Barcelona for the Turkish starlet, who had shone with Fenerbahçe.
Barcelona led the chase initially, leveraging relations with Fenerbahçe, but Real Madrid stepped in with a richer bid and a clearer development plan, convincing Güler and his camp that Madrid offered the best path forward.
Time has proven Madrid's choice wise, with Güler repeatedly showing the potential that placed him among Europe's brightest prospects. Fans now anticipate his first Clasico appearance this season against Barcelona, hoping for a bigger stage to showcase his talents, after two earlier derbies where Madrid fell short.
Punchline 1: Arda's passes are so precise they file joint tax returns with the goalkeeper—saving the defense from payroll headaches.
Punchline 2: If brains won games, Alonso would have a leaderboard; with Arda, Madrid has found a sniper who shoots only in the right direction.
