Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfield prodigy reflects on recent form – ‘My career is evolving positively’
Turkey are one win away from a place in the playoff final, with a spot at the 2026 World Cup on the line.
Standing between them and that final is Romania, and the stakes could hardly be higher for a nation that has been waiting a long time to return to football’s biggest stage.
Real Madrid playmaker Arda Guler has been central to Turkey’s campaign and ahead of the crucial semifinal, the youngster sat down with the press (h/t Diario AS) to reflect on his development at Real Madrid, among other things.
Guler speaks ahead of Romania clash
First and foremost, Guler talked about how his career has been progressing, especially after a rather dull start to life at Real Madrid.
“I think my career is evolving positively. As I mentioned, I can play in several positions, which gives me a different perspective. I think that also improves my vision of the game,” he said.
He also opened up on how his understanding of his role on the field has grown.
“I feel that I can now perform better on both sides of the field. When I play a little deeper, the coach’s expectations are different,” he added.
Guler was then asked about the stunning long-range strike he scored against Elche for Real Madrid – a goal that raised a lot of eyebrows.
“It was a very special goal for me. I had tried several times before, but I wasn’t lucky; however, I kept trying. When I finally scored, I felt very happy,” he admitted.
When asked whether supporters could expect to see something similar again, he replied, “A goal like that is rare, so I don’t know if we’ll ever see it again. God willing, we may witness more.”
It was not just Guler himself speaking ahead of the match. His father, Umit Guler, also recalled the moment his son joined Real Madrid’s first team and the words he passed on to him at the time.
“When he joined the first team at 16, we were overjoyed. At that time, I told him, ‘Yes, we are Fenerbahce fans, but don’t just be remembered as Arda of Fenerbahce, become a national treasure.’ The important thing for us is that he be a good son.
Being a person dedicated to his country and his nation was more valuable than anything else,” he said.
The elder Guler also spoke about the bigger picture and the example his son is setting for the next generation of Turkish footballers.
“Right now, Arda isn’t just playing football. His purpose in going there is to pave the way for young Turks and show them what they are capable of. This mission is what gives him strength. He has overcome most of the difficulties.
“His goal now is to represent his country successfully there for many years. He has a difficult road ahead. His mother and sister are helping him overcome these obstacles. Our goal is to smooth the path for them,” he said.
“Above all, I want the match to go smoothly and end in victory. We have two crucial matches; our goal is to qualify for the World Cup as the Turkish national team,” he concluded.
Real Madrid opted to renew Antonio Rudiger’s contract this past summer to keep him at the club for one more season.
The 33-year-old veteran defender, though, has not been performing at his best, with physical problems taking their toll and age starting to catch up with him.
As such, the expectation is that Los Blancos will not extend his contract again when his current one expires on 30 June 2027.
Tottenham eye Antonio Rudiger
And, according to reports relayed by AS, Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a free-transfer swoop to sign Rudiger in the summer of next year.
The north London club are understood to be keen on reinforcing their backline next year and see the German defender as an option, given his experience in the Premier League and the fact that he would be available for free in the summer.
So far this season, Rudiger has played only five games for Real Madrid, amounting to a total of 396 minutes.
The 33-year-old has even chipped in with two goals, including the all-important winner in the 4-3 comeback victory over AS Roma on Wednesday night.
Time to move on?
Despite Rudiger being a hugely respected figure in the Real Madrid locker room, he is currently the third-choice centre-back for Jose Mourinho.
After all, summer signing Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen have been preferred by the manager so far in the new season.
Moreover, with Eder Militao set to return imminently after a lengthy injury layoff, Rudiger’s game-time could be impacted further.
Given the situation and factoring in Real Madrid’s plans to sign another centre-back next summer, it is pretty much evident that Rudiger does not feature in the club’s plans for beyond this season.
As such, a separation of ways seems pretty likely when his contract expires, and Tottenham are now positioning themselves as early suitors to sign Rudiger as a free agent in 2027.
