Arda Guler, a young talent in Turkish football, has been compared to the legendary player Sergen Yalcin for his exceptional skills with the ball. Just like Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Manchester United in 2007, Arda’s transfer to Real Madrid has become a significant event in Turkish football history. Let’s explore Arda’s journey and discuss his move to the world’s biggest club.
Arda’s Path to Real Madrid
In May 2007, Cristiano Ronaldo won his first Premier League title with Manchester United, and his success attracted attention from top clubs worldwide. Real Madrid’s president, Ramon Calderon, confidently declared that Ronaldo would eventually wear the Real Madrid jersey.
However, Manchester United and their legendary manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, fiercely defended their player, even filing a complaint against Real Madrid to FIFA. Years later, Ferguson admitted that he knew Ronaldo’s departure was inevitable. Real Madrid eventually completed the transfer by paying a record-breaking fee of €94 million on July 6, 2009.
Comparing Arda’s Transfer
Arda Guler’s transfer to Real Madrid created a similar buzz in Turkish football. As there was no comparable precedent, it was difficult for many to comprehend the magnitude of the move.
Arda, an 18-year-old player, joined the world’s biggest club for a record fee.
Looking back at the past, the closest comparison we can find is Emre Belozoglu’s move to Inter Milan at the age of 20. At that time, many Galatasaray fans were uncertain about their feelings towards Emre’s departure. However, any discontent soon dissipated as Emre made significant contributions to Inter Milan and earned respect from fans.
Understanding Arda’s Decision
It is natural for Fenerbahce fans to feel a sense of disappointment with Arda’s departure. They may have wanted him to stay longer and become a star within the team. However, it is crucial to understand Arda’s perspective.
FIFA’s research shows that there are approximately 250 million licensed football players worldwide, while only around 25 have the opportunity to play for Real Madrid.
Arda had dreams beyond being the next Sergen Yalcin or Alex de Souza; he aimed to be like Kevin De Bruyne or any other top player in the world. Arda’s vision and ambition have set him apart from his peers.
Arda’s Real Madrid Journey
Many questions arise when considering Arda’s chances at Real Madrid. With the departure of Karim Benzema, there is a need for a forward, and Arda could potentially fill that role. Additionally, the absence of players like Marco Asensio and Eden Hazard opens up opportunities in the right-wing position.
Arda’s physical and defensive skills will need further development, but with the guidance of experienced players like Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos, he has a chance to grow into a central midfielder as well.
Real Madrid’s Approach to Young Players
Real Madrid’s recent transfer policies have shown a shift from the “galácticos” era to a focus on young talents. They have acquired promising players like Vinícius Júnior and Federico Valverde, giving them significant playing time in their debut seasons.
Arda Guler, alongside new signings like Eduardo Camavinga, represents the next generation of players to carry on Real Madrid’s legacy. The club’s emphasis on nurturing young talents and maintaining a culture of excellence suggests that Arda will have opportunities to showcase his abilities and make a mark at the club.
Arda Guler’s transfer to Real Madrid marks a significant milestone in Turkish football history. His journey from Fenerbahçe to the world’s biggest club reflects the changing aspirations and ambitions of young Turkish players.
Arda’s decision to join Real Madrid demonstrates his determination to dream big and achieve greatness. As he embarks on this new chapter, it will be exciting to witness his growth and contribution to the prestigious club.
Who is Arda Guler?
Arda Guler, born on February 25, 2005, in Ankara, is a Turkish national football player who plays in the midfield position. He currently plays for Fenerbahce, a team in the Super Lig. He played for Genclerbirligi’s youth team from 2014 to 2019. On February 20, 2019, he transferred to Fenerbahce’s youth team for a fee of 150,000 TL (28,000 Euros).
Fenerbahce: 2021–2023
On January 13, 2021, Arda Guler signed a 2.5-year professional contract with Fenerbahçe. With the Fenerbahce jersey, he played 19 matches in the U19 Super Lig, contributing 7 goals and 4 assists to the team. Fenerbahce finished the U19 Süper Lig in 6th place, earning a chance to compete in the playoffs.
In the match against Medipol Basakşehir U19 team, Arda Guler scored 3 goals and made 1 assist. The match ended with a 6–0 victory for Fenerbahce. In the third-place match against Kasımpasa U19 team, he contributed 1 goal and 2 assists to his team. Fenerbahce finished the league in third place with a 5–1 victory. Arda Guler became the top goal scorer in the playoffs in the tournament.
Arda Guler made his first appearance for Fenerbahce in the UEFA Europa League playoff round against HJK Helsinki.
He made his debut in the Super Lig in the second week of the league against Antalyaspor, coming on as a substitute for Kim Min-Jae in the 87th minute. In this match, Arda provided his first assist with Fenerbahce in the 89th minute to Miha Zajc. Fenerbahce won the match 2–0.
On February 17, 2022, in the UEFA Conference League playoff match against Slavia Prague, Arda Guler came on as a substitute for Miha Zajc in the 75th minute and provided an assist to Ferdi Kadıoğlu in the 83rd minute. Fenerbahce lost the match 3–2.
On February 20, 2022, Arda started in the starting lineup in the league match against Hatayspor.
With his effective performance, he was voted as the “Man of the Match” with a 86.9% vote percentage in the poll conducted by Fenerbahce’s official Twitter account.
After the match, Arda appeared on the post-match program on FBTV with his teammate Cagtay Kurukalip. He also shared his feelings on social media: “Exactly 3 years ago today, I walked through the doors of Fenerbahçe. It is a great pride for me to step on the field for the first time in the starting lineup with the jersey I have been dreaming of since day one. I will continue to work hard and fight for my dreams.”
On March 13, 2022, Arda Guler came on as a substitute for Mesut Ozil in the 74th minute of the league match against Alanyaspor. Just 3 minutes after coming on, he scored a goal, breaking the tie and bringing the score to 3–2. This was Arda’s first goal in his professional football career. At the age of scoring this goal, Arda became the youngest goal scorer in the history of Fenerbahce. In the 90+4th minute, he also provided an assist to Mërgim Berisha. The match ended with a 5–2 victory for Fenerbahce.
On March 17, 2022, a collective signing ceremony was held for 6 players, including Arda Guler. Arda extended his contract with Fenerbahce for 3 more years.
On April 22, 2022, in the league match against Caykur Rizespor, Arda Guler came on as a substitute in the 45th minute and provided an assist to Enner Valencia in the 65th minute.
In the same season, Arda played in both the Super Lig and the U19 Super Lig. He scored 4 goals and made 4 assists in 8 matches with the U19 team. He played 12 matches in the Super Lig, scoring 3 goals and making 3 assists. In the 2 UEFA matches he played, he provided 2 assists, contributing to his team.
On August 8, 2022, Arda Guler received the number 10 jersey in a ceremony conducted by Fenerbahce President Ali Koc and Head Coach Jorge Jesus.
On August 15, 2022, in the second week match against Kasımpaşa, Arda Guler came on as a substitute for Enner Valencia in the 69th minute. He scored 2 goals in the 86th and 90+2nd minutes of the match. Fenerbahce won the match 6–0.
On November 3, 2022, in the 6th match of the UEFA Europa League against Dinamo Kiev, Arda Guler scored a goal in the 23rd minute and provided an assist to Willian Arão in the 45+2nd minute, ensuring Fenerbahce’s leadership in the UEFA Europa League groups. With this goal, Arda also scored his first goal in European Cup competitions in his career and became the youngest player in Fenerbahce’s history to score in European competitions. Arda also became the youngest Turkish player to score in European Cup competitions (Champions League, Europa League, Conference League).
