Real Madrid’s 20-year-old talent set for regular starts under Arbeloa | OneFootball

Arda Guler’s situation at Real Madrid is heading in a completely new direction, and this time the shift appears to be structural rather than circumstantial. 

After a season marked by flashes of promise and periods of uncertainty, the Turkish midfielder is now central to the vision of new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who sees him as a long-term solution rather than a rotational option.

During the early phase of the campaign, Guler benefited from the tactical adjustments introduced by former coach Xabi Alonso. 

A change in role initially allowed the 20-year-old to operate closer to the heart of the game, where his technical quality and awareness could shine. 

However, as the season wore on, his influence began to fade. The team struggled for balance, performances dipped, and Guler gradually found himself drifting away from the starting XI.

Change is on the cards

That narrative is now set to be rewritten. According to AS, Arbeloa has already decided that Guler will be a regular starter moving forward. 

The plan is for him to be deployed as a pure playmaker, trusted with responsibility, and given the continuity needed to fully settle into the role. 

There will be no constant positional changes or stop-start involvement. The message from the coaching staff is simple: this is your position, now make it your own.

Early signs have been positive

Arda Guler will feature regularly under Arbeloa. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

As such, the early signs have already been encouraging. In the defeat to Albacete, Guler was widely seen as the only player to emerge with credit, showing personality and clarity despite the team’s struggles. 

The result, however, had consequences, and he was pushed back to the bench for the clash against Levante. 

Even so, his second-half introduction changed the flow of the game, as he helped bring order and direction to Madrid’s build-up play.

Change is inevitable

The coaching staff is aligned on the fact that the team needs improved ball distribution from midfield. 

While Aurélien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham remain crucial, their profiles are different. 

One drops deep, the other attacks space. What Madrid lack is a connector who can also read wide spaces and scan the game effectively.

Among the current options, Guler stands out. Arbeloa is prepared to back him with minutes, patience, and tactical clarity. 

Now, Guler will be given the platform. Whether he becomes the heartbeat of this Madrid side now depends entirely on how he responds.