Real Madrid have a gem in Arda Guler. Not many people are surprised that Guler is playing as well as he is, simply because that is what Real Madrid fans have been expecting him to do.
They have wanted to see him play for as long as anyone can remember, and since the Copa Del Rey final in April, we have seen a shift.
Even though Guler played in nearly all the games since that final, he needed some getting used to, as he was being thrown around in different positions because of injuries, rather than playing where he plays best.
Guler is a pure midfielder, and that is where Real Madrid need to play him. That is what people realise whenever they see him play.
Arda Guler's latest words suggest Real Madrid may finally see the real him
Xabi Alonso has profiled him well in these first two games. So much so that he has been a brilliant performer for Real Madrid.
When asked about his situation, whether he is happy or not, Guler only had good, positive things to say. And I am guessing a lot of it comes down to the talk Alonso would have had with him.
He said: "I am much happier now because I am playing. There is a lot of me to come at Real Madrid.”
Words that feel so good that you have to see them to believe them.
The higher ups have always wanted to see him play, but Carlo Ancelotti was a bit hesitant at the start - similar, in a way, to Aurelien Tchouameni - and did not give him many minutes.
However, when it was a bit too late, Guler started playing, and now, he is slowly but surely becoming a very central cog in Alonso's side, and it remains to be seen what happens with his minutes once Franco Mastantuono arrives.
Real Madrid won't field 12 players, of course, so Alonso will need to figure out who goes where. But that's a good problem to have.