The 2026/27 La Liga and Champions League seasons are going to massive for Kylian Mbappe, who still has to prove that he was the right move for Real Madrid to make in 2024. At the time, Madridistas thought the dream being fulfilled at last of Mbappe for free from PSG could never go wrong and that Madrid would have the biggest juggernaut in the world, having already swept up the La Liga and Champions League titles in 2024 without him.
But thus far, Mbappe's only trophies are two Pichichis, and even this summer, his France did not finish in the top three despite a Golden Boot that was sealed with two meaningless goals in a 6-4 loss to Jude Bellingham's England in the third place game.
There is reason for hope that Mbappe can finally turn it around as a team player in the Spanish capital, and Florentino Perez hired Jose Mourinho specifically for that purpose. Mourinho has said publicly that he is here to make things work with all the superstars, but, the funny thing is, the star he is most focused on may not even be Bellingham, Mbappe, or left winger Vinicius Junior.
Jose Mourinho has an Arda Guler plan
According to a report from Diario AS, via Madrid Xtra, Turkish national team attacking midfielder Arda Guler is one of the players Mourinho has been most interested in thus far. Mourinho had already tried to sign him before while he was managing Fenerbahce, and he has big plans on him. Previous reports earlier this summer likened Guler to being as important as Mesut Ozil was for Mourinho in the past when the German international was setting records with assists, setting the table for Cristiano Ronaldo. Diario AS also report that Mourinho has noticed the great chemistry between Guler and Mbappe, who received eight of his goals directly from the boot of the 21 year old.
Despite his importance already at Real Madrid as their best chance creator, pure playmaker, and even corner kick taker, Guler is still only 21. And his diehard fans and many of the Madridistas believe firmly that he could be doing even more, which is why they are very pleased Jose Mourinho has taken a close interest in him.
That is also wonderful news for Kylian Mbappe, who does need that sort of an elite playmaker feeding him chances. Mbappe will have to be smarter with his runs in and around the box, and Mourinho will work with both him and Guler on the timing of the passes and movement to maximize the goals. Big things are coming for both in 2026/27.
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