Arda Guler Breaks Silence on Real Madrid Future: "I Must Get Playing Time"
Turkish rising star Arda Güler remains committed to Real Madrid, though he acknowledges he might need to evaluate his position at the club if he doesn't secure a more prominent role under new head coach Xabi Alonso.
Madrid acquired Güler amid considerable excitement two seasons ago following his breakthrough at Fenerbahçe, however the attacking midfielder had limited opportunities during Carlo Ancelotti's tenure.
The 20-year-old witnessed his La Liga playing time grow from 373 minutes in his debut season to 1,249 minutes in his second year, yet many believed the left-footed creative player was not utilized to his full potential. Nevertheless, Ancelotti consistently praised Güler before his exit, expressing confidence that he would develop into a "very important player" for Madrid down the line.
Although accumulating barely 1,500 minutes across all competitions last season due to intense competition for attacking positions at Madrid, Güler managed to record 14 goal contributions.
The 20-year-old is presently in the United States for the Club World Cup, where we witnessed Madrid's first match under Alonso in their 1–1 stalemate against Al Hilal to kick off their campaign. Güler, who featured in the second half, has expressed that he already feels "more important" under the Spanish manager's guidance.
"I'm comfortable working with him because he emphasizes controlling the game's rhythm, he prefers more short passing combinations, and he views me as a midfielder, which suits me better," he explained to MARCA.
While there have been speculative transfer rumors following two relatively subdued seasons in the Spanish capital, Güler emphasized that departing Madrid isn't on his mind. Nevertheless, he desires maximum playing time, and if he cannot establish greater importance next season, Güler might consider exploring other options.
"At this moment, I haven't considered leaving, but naturally, if I don't get playing time, I'll evaluate all possibilities, but currently, I'm entirely concentrated on Real Madrid," he stated.