Luka Modric’s story at Real Madrid will come to a close after the FIFA Club World Cup and the player has already bid farewell to the fans at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Considering that his departure comes after a season when Los Blancos have suffered in midfield and relied on his heavily through the season, it is safe to say that the new manager Xabi Alonso wishes to make serious changes from the grassroot level.
Come next season, the manager will likely change the complete midfield dynamics for Real Madrid and is expected to shift to a 4-3-3 model with more out-and-out midfielders and fewer players in hybrid roles.
As relayed by AS in a recent report, Real Madrid will convert Arda Guler, their young Turkish pearl, into a complete ‘full-time midfielder’ next season and seriously bet on him to step up in the department.
The youngster did not enjoy much prominence under Carlo Ancelotti last season. Even on the few occasions he did, he played either as an advanced midfielder or a winger.
Now, however, the plan is to return to the basics and Alonso wishes for Guler to play a creative role from a deeper position.
The idea is to shift him to central midfield in the 4-3-3 so he can serve as the deep-lying playmaker.
Over the years, Guler has shown to have the talent required to shine in the central midfield and it may well be in his best interest to adapt to the role even if he is no long as accustomed to it.
After all, Jude Bellingham is close to irreplaceable as Real Madrid’s attacking midfielder and Franco Mastantuono’s imminent arrival adds another direct competitor to Guler’s position on the field.