Overview
- Arda Güler told TRT Spor that Xabi Alonso spoke with him before taking the job and wanted him to play in central midfield, a position Güler says has felt natural since childhood.
- Güler said Alonso ‘handed me the keys’ to the midfield and that the former coach sent a message after Real Madrid’s Champions League return leg in Munich on April 15 to say he was proud of Güler’s two-goal game.
- Alonso’s tenure at Real Madrid ended with his January dismissal and he has since signed for Chelsea, but Güler says they still exchange messages and he wishes Alonso well in London.
- Güler credited Luka Modrić and Carlo Ancelotti as important influences, noted a strong on-field chemistry with Kylian Mbappé, and has been nominated for LaLiga’s U23 award as he prepares for international duty.
- Real Madrid faces a period of change after a season without major trophies, and Güler’s move toward a central role could shape the club’s midfield rebuild and his role for Turkiye at the 2026 World Cup.