Arda Güler begins the new season at Real Madrid with a vastly different outlook from when he first arrived. After a challenging first year plagued by injuries and a second season of limited minutes under Carlo Ancelotti, the young Turkish talent now enters a campaign filled with excitement, confidence, and—most importantly—a key role.

The turning point in Güler’s trajectory at Real Madrid comes down to one name: Xabi Alonso. The new manager has made it clear that his project begins from scratch on August 4th, when preseason officially kicks off. Yet even before that, Alonso had already started shaping his tactical vision during the Club World Cup, and Güler featured prominently in those early plans.

In the United States, Alonso tested Güler in an unfamiliar role: as a creative midfielder in a system with three central defenders behind him. Traditionally more comfortable closer to the opponent’s box, Güler was now asked to orchestrate play from deeper areas. The experiment was ambitious, but it worked.

Alonso was thoroughly impressed. What stood out most wasn’t just Güler’s well-known technical ability, but his eagerness to learn, adapt to new positions, and embrace defensive responsibilities that had never been part of his game. The maturity and professionalism he showed left a strong impression, and Alonso now envisions him as a central figure in Real Madrid’s midfield engine.

For Güler, the Club World Cup served as a turning point. After months of pushing for more minutes, he finally found a coach who believes in his potential and is willing to trust him with a central role. At just 20 years old, Güler is preparing for a decisive season, one where he can prove himself not just as a young talent but as a key pillar in Xabi Alonso’s new era at the club.

If the momentum from the Club World Cup continues, this could be the season Güler fully announces himself to the world. The talent has always been there. Now, with confidence and the right coach behind him, the stage is finally his.

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