Arda Güler has turned a neat pre-season into a real selection problem for Real Madrid. He has two assists in the meetings with Fiorentina and Ferencvárosi, and the debate around him is no longer about whether he belongs. It is about where Jose Mourinho should put him.
Guler's role inside the attack
He has been used in the advanced central role that could otherwise belong to Jude Bellingham, which is where his passing and touch have had the most impact. The assists against Fiorentina and Ferencvárosi came from that zone, and it is easy to see why Madrid have kept testing him there.
The other wrinkle is tactical flexibility. Mourinho is also considering Guler deeper in a double pivot, which would change the job completely. That is a more demanding role in terms of positioning and build-up work, but it also shows Madrid are looking at him as more than a narrow attacking midfielder.
The numbers behind the rise
The output is not coming from a tiny sample of flattering cameos. Guler has a 7.12 average rating across 3 appearances and 280 minutes, while also registering an assist in the recent five-match sample. Those are the kind of numbers that buy a player another look, especially when they arrive alongside clear positional versatility.
Kiyan Sobhani said Guler is "earning another opportunity", and that feels right. Jose Mourinho does not seem to have settled on his best role yet, but the evidence points to a player doing enough in more than one position to keep himself in the conversation.
Real Madrid have won 4 of their last 5 league matches in the supplied form sample, so the competition for attacking and midfield minutes is not getting any easier. Deportivo La Coruna are not part of this picture yet, but the next team to face Madrid will have to deal with a squad where Guler is looking harder to leave out than to fit in.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
