Arda Güler continues to grow into his role at Real Madrid, and in an interview with TRT Spor, the Turkish midfielder offered a look into his development, his relationship with teammates, and the mentality that drove him forward under former coach Xabi Alonso.
“Kylian and I have a special chemistry”
The two have already shown promising combinations in recent matches, and Güler admitted that their understanding of the game naturally complements each other.
“Kylian and I have a similar way of understanding football. We have a special chemistry
on the pitch. Besides being an incredible player, he’s also a great person off the field.”
Xabi Alonso’s faith in him
Güler also revealed an important detail about his conversations with Xabi Alonso before the coach officially arrived at Real Madrid.
According to the Turkish international, Alonso made it clear early on that he envisioned him playing centrally rather than out wide — a role Güler says has always felt most natural to him.
“During [Jorge] Jesus’s time at Fenerbahçe, I played on the right wing. I continued there with Ancelotti as well, because there were many players in the center. Xabi Alonso, before arriving, spoke to me and told me he was thinking of me for the center. I was very happy because that’s the position I’ve felt most comfortable in since I was a child. It was exactly the role I wanted, and it didn’t take me long to adapt.”
Güler also revealed that Alonso personally contacted him after his standout performance against Bayern Munich.
“After the match against Bayern, Xabi Alonso sent me a message. He wrote that he was very proud of me. I was very happy when I saw the message.”
Learning from Luka Modrić
Few young midfielders could ask for a better mentor than Luka Modrić, and Güler clearly understands the privilege of sharing a dressing room with the Croatian legend.
“Modric is an incredible player. I feel very fortunate to have played with him, to have talked about football with him, and to have been able to learn from him. He’s one of the most complete midfielders of our generation.”
A mentality built on obsession
Despite scoring twice against Bayern Munich, the young midfielder admitted he spent days replaying a single lost duel in his head.
“There are things I get obsessed with. When someone takes the ball from me on the field, I fix my attention on it. In the match against Bayern where I scored two goals, I missed a tackle. I watched it for two or three days and got angry with myself. I kept telling myself I should have won that tackle.”
Understanding Real Madrid’s winning culture
Güler also reflected on how his upbringing at Fenerbahçe helped prepare him for the pressure and expectations of playing at Real Madrid.
“Fenerbahçe was a club that wanted to win everything. We also tried to win every match with the national team. Real Madrid’s structure is similar, so I’m used to this situation.”
