Real Madrid midfield prodigy reflects on recent form – ‘My career is evolving positively’ | OneFootball

Turkey are one win away from a place in the playoff final, with a spot at the 2026 World Cup on the line.

Standing between them and that final is Romania, and the stakes could hardly be higher for a nation that has been waiting a long time to return to football’s biggest stage.

Real Madrid playmaker Arda Guler has been central to Turkey’s campaign and ahead of the crucial semifinal, the youngster sat down with the press (h/t Diario AS) to reflect on his development at Real Madrid, among other things.

Guler speaks ahead of Romania clash

First and foremost, Guler talked about how his career has been progressing, especially after a rather dull start to life at Real Madrid.

“I think my career is evolving positively. As I mentioned, I can play in several positions, which gives me a different perspective. I think that also improves my vision of the game,” he said.

He also opened up on how his understanding of his role on the field has grown.

“I feel that I can now perform better on both sides of the field. When I play a little deeper, the coach’s expectations are different,” he added.

Guler was then asked about the stunning long-range strike he scored against Elche for Real Madrid – a goal that raised a lot of eyebrows.

“It was a very special goal for me. I had tried several times before, but I wasn’t lucky; however, I kept trying. When I finally scored, I felt very happy,” he admitted.

Guler scored a wonder goal against Elche. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

When asked whether supporters could expect to see something similar again, he replied, “A goal like that is rare, so I don’t know if we’ll ever see it again. God willing, we may witness more.”

It was not just Guler himself speaking ahead of the match. His father, Umit Guler, also recalled the moment his son joined Real Madrid’s first team and the words he passed on to him at the time.

“When he joined the first team at 16, we were overjoyed. At that time, I told him, ‘Yes, we are Fenerbahce fans, but don’t just be remembered as Arda of Fenerbahce, become a national treasure.’ The important thing for us is that he be a good son.

Being a person dedicated to his country and his nation was more valuable than anything else,” he said.

The elder Guler also spoke about the bigger picture and the example his son is setting for the next generation of Turkish footballers.

“Right now, Arda isn’t just playing football. His purpose in going there is to pave the way for young Turks and show them what they are capable of. This mission is what gives him strength. He has overcome most of the difficulties.

“His goal now is to represent his country successfully there for many years. He has a difficult road ahead. His mother and sister are helping him overcome these obstacles. Our goal is to smooth the path for them,” he said.

“Above all, I want the match to go smoothly and end in victory. We have two crucial matches; our goal is to qualify for the World Cup as the Turkish national team,” he concluded.