Real Madrid are grossly underrepresented in the Spanish national team. But that has not always been the case; this is only a trend of the recent few years
Not long ago, the national side was dominated by the likes of Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas, Nacho, Isco, Dani Carvajal and others.
These names went toe to toe with Barcelona stars in what was one of the most lethal European national teams of all time.
In recent years, however, the number of Madrid players breaking into the squad has fallen like a block of lego.
Today, only a handful make the cut. Raul Asencio made his debut just last season, Dani Carvajal remains but not for long, and the arrivals of Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras have helped the numbers slightly. Others, though, are far from regulars.
Meanwhile, Barcelona players continue to dominate the setup. Many Los Blancos fans feel the selection panel carries a bias.
Even manager Luis de la Fuente often makes absurd, uncalled-for comments that betray a tilt away from Madrid.
But in a recent interview, the Spain boss said something you would not expect about a Real Madrid player.
Spain boss De la Fuente sends rare praise for Real Madrid youngster
Ahead of the Spain vs Turkiye World Cup qualifier, De la Fuente was asked about Arda Guler’s development. To the surprise of many, he was full of praise for the midfielder.
He said, “Arda Güler is an exceptional player. We’re watching him here in La Liga with Real Madrid.
His position has changed; he’s shown that he’s very versatile. He can play in deeper positions, close to the box, and also on the wing. He’s a great player.”
That is new, right?
It is true, though, that Arda Guler has become a versatile midfielder whose role has shifted with his growing importance in the team.
Xabi Alonso has unlocked in him what Carlo Ancelotti could not or simply did not want to.
In just two games, Guler was already the top chance creator across Europe’s top five leagues. That statistic alone highlights the travesty of him barely featuring last season.
Now that things are improving for both Real Madrid and Guler, such praise from unexpected corners may well become the norm.