After what has felt like an eternity of waiting and unfortunate setbacks, the moment has finally arrived for Arda Güler to make his true mark with Real Madrid. The Turkish wonderkid is poised to start for the first time at the hallowed Santiago Bernabéu against Cádiz on Saturday. It represents a grand opportunity for the 18-year-old phenom to announce himself on the biggest stage.
A Winding Road to the Bernabéu Littered With Obstacles
Güler’s path to becoming a bonafide starter for the newly-crowned European champions has been incredibly arduous. Joining from Fenerbahçe last summer amid much fanfare for €17.5 million, he was expected to make an immediate impact. But a meniscus injury requiring surgery right away was the first major setback.
Once finally recovered, a maddening series of nagging muscle issues continued delaying Güler’s long-awaited debut for Los Blancos. This created an aura of mystery and anticipation around the silky-skilled playmaker. When would Madrid fans finally get to see the “Turkish Messi” strut his stuff?
Flashes of Brilliance Whetting the Appetite
It took until January for Güler to make his first cameo appearances, but he immediately showed why he was so highly-coveted. Despite playing just 166 minutes all season, he has scored two vital goals and won a penalty with his magical footwork. Moments of genius like nearly scoring from the halfway line against Osasuna began building the hype.
His composure and quality really shone through with a full 60 minutes against lower league Arandina in the Copa del Rey. But it was his dramatic 89th minute winner at Real Sociedad to keep Madrid’s La Liga title hopes alive that really elevated Güler to cult hero status overnight.
A Generational Talent Ready to Arrive?
At just 5’7″ and 141 lbs, Güler certainly doesn’t pass the eye test physically. But his technical quality, balance, and poise on the ball is truly breathtaking for someone his age and size. His close control and ability to navigate tight spaces is already being compared to Lionel Messi himself.
The Turkish international’s magical left foot also possesses incredible quality and variety. He can slide teammates in behind the defense with sublime through balls, but also bends shots into the top corners seemingly at will. His ice-cool penalty box composure makes Güler a constant goal threat that cannot be ignored.
Perhaps most impressive is Güler’s incredible vision and understanding of the game that belies his teenage years. He seems to have a preternatural sense of where teammates and passing lanes will open up before they actually do. Combined with his tenacious work rate defending from the front, it’s easy to see why he’s generated such hype as the complete midfield package.
The Next in Line After Modric and Kroos
High praise has flowed in from pundits and coaches alike likening Güler to former Real Madrid maestros like Guti and Isco for his elegance in possession. His manager Carlo Ancelotti has certainly not been shy in lauding the youngster’s immense potential:
“Arda is going to be a very important player for us in the future. There is no doubt that he will stay here next year.”
With Luka Modrić now 37 and Toni Kroos 33, Güler appears the anointed heir to eventually take over the keys to Madrid’s midfield engine room. But first he must prove himself ready to be a consistent starter at the tender age of just 18.
High Stakes Baptism by Fire at the Bernabéu
That crucial next step will come this Saturday against Cádiz at the iconic Bernabéu stadium. With injuries ravaging Madrid’s squad and the La Liga title race going down to the wire, Ancelotti’s hand appears forced to give Güler his first real extended run in the starting lineup.
It’s about as high-leverage a situation as one could imagine for such a young player being blooded into the starting XI. Not only will over 80,000 white-hot Madridistas be roaring him on, but a potential title-winning performance will be needed to keep pace with Barcelona at the summit.
Is the gem from Istanbul ready to truly sparkle on the biggest stage of all? In his own words to Turkish outlet Kafa Sports, Güler certainly seems to believe his long-awaited opportunity has arrived:
“We all want to be in the field from minute 1 to 90…I am patient. (Ancelotti) keeps telling me that he sees me better. He tells me that I will have more opportunities at the end of the League.”
Seizing This Golden Chance Could Seal His Superstar Status
Those highly-anticipated “opportunities at the end of the League” that Ancelotti promised are now staring Güler square in the face. Should he rise to the occasion with a talismanic display against Cádiz, it could cement him as one of the first names on the teamsheet moving forward.
From dealing with the weight of expectations as a big-money teen signing, to battling back from multiple injuries, to now being thrown into the white-hot pressure-cooker of a La Liga title chase, nothing has been easy so far for the Turkish wonderkid. But that’s exactly what will make it so satisfying for him and Madrid fans if he can prove himself ready for superstardom on Saturday.
The hype has built to a fever pitch surrounding Güler and his “Turkish Messi” nickname. Now the fresh-faced phenom will get the grandest of stages to display his immense talents from the opening whistle. All eyes will be fixated on the slick playmaker as he aims to show the world he is ready to be the latest generational superstar off the prolific Real Madrid academy conveyor belt.
