Arda Güler was the standout in Real Madrid’s 2-1 preseason win over Ferencvarosi TC, playing the full 90 minutes and finishing with 91 touches, 4 shots and 4 chances created. He was also described as the star of Real Madrid’s pre-season and the man of the match in the player ratings. That is the sort of performance that makes a coach keep looking at the same player, and keep looking at the same position.

Güler’s control of the game

The central point is not just that Güler was busy. He was the main hub of Real Madrid’s attack, which fits the eye test from a match where he dictated a lot of what happened in Budapest. His 4 chances created were the clearest sign that this was not a neat cameo or a highlight-reel spell, but a full-game influence.

There is also the question of how to read his role in the goals. One source said Güler was directly involved in both goals, while another said Álex Ciria supplied the assist for Mario Rivas’s opener and was praised as an explosive dribbler. Both versions still point to the same broad picture, Güler sat at the centre of the attacking play even if the credit on the scoresheet is not identical across reports.

Bellingham’s return changes the picture

The complication is Jude Bellingham, whose numbers make the same central zone feel crowded before he has even come back into the frame. He has a 7.77 season rating, 7 goals and 1 assist, and the squad planning around him is clearly not theoretical. Güler can only be judged against that sort of competition, not against a vacuum.

That is why the selection debate is already alive. Güler’s performance against Ferencvaros looked like the work of a player who should keep starting. Bellingham’s record says the same area of the pitch will not stay open for long. Real Madrid do not have to choose today, but the idea that both can be treated as automatic fits in the same space is getting harder to sell.

Mourinho’s wider summer picture makes the squeeze even sharper. Bernardo Silva made his first minutes for Real Madrid in Budapest, and Jose Mourinho said he was still “way below where it should be” physically. Valverde, by contrast, said Silva had “fit in very well with the whole team” and called him “a magical player”. That split is useful because it shows the same squad being viewed through very different lenses: one about readiness, the other about integration.

Valverde’s own role only adds to the sense that standards are being set early. The captain said he did not expect Mourinho to be “like this”, describing him as approachable but also tough in a way that can help players improve. He also said he has been acting as “a sort of third or second captain for years now”, which gives Real Madrid a clear hierarchy while the new attacking pieces settle in.

The immediate takeaway from Budapest is simple enough. Güler was not just involved, he was central. With Bellingham’s return still to come and Silva already in the mix, the next conversation around Real Madrid is less about whether Güler has done enough and more about where he fits when everyone is available.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →