Real Madrid News
Real Madrid youngster set to start for national team despite limited role at club
It has been a difficult season for Arda Guler at Real Madrid, with minutes once again proving hard to come by for the 20-year-old attacking midfield prodigy.
The lack of continuity has meant that even when he gets a rare opportunity from Carlo Ancelotti, the youngster is unable to make the impact that he is capable of, leading to doubts about his future at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Turkey offers a chance to play
Amidst the struggle for playing time at Real Madrid, the international break comes as a much-needed boost for Guler, for Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella plans to start him in their upcoming match against Hungary, reports AS.
Indeed, Montella has begun working closely with Guler – not only to prepare him for the UEFA Nations League return match against Hungary but also to lift his spirits for the remainder of the season.
The former Fenerbahce starlet arrived at the national team camp in low spirits due to his lack of playing time at Real Madrid. As such, Montella has taken it upon himself to help the young forward regain confidence.
The Italian has full faith in the Real Madrid prodigy and plans to start him in the return match against Hungary on Sunday, despite his limited game time under Ancelotti.
Montella’s advice to Guler
As per the report, Montella has reminded Guler that professional football is not a linear journey but one full of ups and downs. He advised him to avoid dwelling on disappointment and instead focus on his work, training hard without giving up.
The former Sevilla manager is closely monitoring Guler’s well-being within the national team and believes that playing from the start will help him regain confidence.
Due to suspension for accumulating yellow cards, Guler will miss Turkey’s first match against Hungary on Thursday but will be available for the return leg.
So far this season, Guler has played 1,088 minutes across 30 matches for Real Madrid, scoring three goals and providing five assists.
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.
