A Real Madrid star now flourishing under Xabi Alonso took what has been perceived as a dig at former boss Carlo Ancelotti by indicating that he is happier in life with the Italian’s successor.
Arda Guler famously snubbed Los Blancos’ bitter rival FC Barcelona to join Madrid from Fenerbahce in 2023.
Though he has already picked up winners medals in the Champions League and La Liga among other competitions, the young Turk had difficulty finding regular minutes on a packed front line.
In Guler’s maiden campaign, Ancelotti went with wingers Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo as a front two. Then when Kylian Mbappe arrived on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, in 2024/2025, it was often a front three containing the Br azilians and the Frenchman as a central number 9.
Towards the end of the season, Ancelotti appeared to show more trust in Guler by putting him on the right side of the trident as Rodrygo was frozen out for key matches such as the Spanish top flight title-deciding episode of El Clasico won 4-3 by the Catalans in Montjuic.
He also never hesitated to praise the 20-year-old in public, and tipped him for great things in May.
" Arda Güler has made tremendous progress. He’s showing his quality and gaining consistency. I believe he can become an exceptional midfielder, because there are very few at his level. He will be very important for the future of Real Madrid," Ancelotti predicted.
Since then, however, the UCL’s most successful coach of all time has taken the Br azil national team manager’s post while Alonso now mans the dugout at the Club World Cup.
It is there that Guler has enjoyed increased prominence, which has made the youngster happier in a more central ‘10’ role, as he has already stated in public.
“Yes, of course,” Guler answered when asked to confirm whether he is more content. “I like to play in the center more, and I’m enjoying it a lot, I hope it continues like this.”
Guler confirmed that Alonso likes him “to play as a ‘10’” to “lead and improve the team”.
“For me the scheme doesn’t change much, whether it’s with two or three strikers. I like to be behind, to get into the game, I enjoy it in any way,” Guler also commented, while expecting a “difficult match” against Dortmund because “they have good players”.
Having said this, Guler is “sure that they can win” the quarterfinal tie against the German and set up a last four showdown with either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich.
Despite Guler being in a more central midfield role, Rodrygo’s future at Real Madrid remains uncertain. The Santos academy graduate is on the outside looking in from the bench, and remains linked with a move to the Premier League.