There has been a lot of debate about where Real Madrid should play Arda Guler this season, and most of it has centered around the spot in the midfield he should occupy. We have mostly seen the Turkish international excel in a No. 10 role, and he is an ideal pure playmaker with his ability to create chances, which actually bested every single player in last season's Champions League and is second to only Mesut Ozil in modern times - hence why many are saying he will be the new Ozil for Kylian Mbappe in the Jose Mourinho system.
But Mourinho told everyone publicly that his goal is to transition Guler into a Luka Modric role, and many pointed out that Guler played more as a deep lying playmaker in the old Andrea Pirlo regista role by the end of Carlo Ancelotti's reign as Real Madrid manager during the 2024/25 season. And with Jude Bellingham thriving as a box crasher in the modern No. 10 role behind Mbappe, that has left Guler as a better option in an alternative role so as to not miss out on Jude as a 10, which Mourinho said after the Espanyol game is his intention.
So far through the first two games as Real Madrid manager, Mourinho has actually been utilizing Guler on the right wing again, starting him over 140 million euro signing Yan Diomande, a prospect with even more future hype than Guler.
Arda Guler is thriving in a false winger role for Real Madrid
Now, Madridistas have seen Guler start as a right winger before, and while that is not new for the left footed attacker, the specific role Mourinho is playing him in is both different and more conducive to the young man's success.
As a true winger, Arda Guler lacks the physicality, speed, explosion, and overall athletic ability to play that role in the Real Madrid system. Instead, Guler seems to be doing what Isco used to do on the left at times, playing as an inverted playmaker and a bit of a false winger.
Through two matches, Guler has 12 key passes, and he is making a massive impact as a creator. While he is not doing much progression or dribbling, he is finding pockets of space intelligently in the attacking third to weave his magic as a passer, and that is paying huge dividends for the front line, whether it is Kylian Mbappe or Jude Bellingham.
Now, that is not good news for Yan Diomande, who is not a starter in the team with Guler on the right. But it is good news for Real Madrid and another way for Guler to make a profound impact on this starting XI.
Add us as a preferred source on Google