Premier League giants Arsenal and Newcastle United have missed out on a potentially Messi-like talent as the ‘extraordinary’ Arda Guler seals his £25 million move to Real Madrid.
Upon his official unveiling at arguably world football’s most iconic football club this week, the 18-year-old whizzkid shared his plans to become a Real Madrid ‘legend’.
The first challenge facing Arda Guler, however, is to nail down a first-team spot at the Santiago Bernabau. Everything else comes later.
The struggles of Martin Odegaard, Takefusa Kubo and co show just how intense the competition and the expectations are in the Spanish capital, though the mere fact that Real Madrid are investing up to £25 million in a teenager with just 32 senior appearances under his belt is testament to how highly they rate the former Fenerbahce whizzkid.
“It is crucial that the boy stays on the ground. It’s damn difficult (to stay focused),” Turkey coach Stefan Kuntz – who handed Guler his international bow last November – tells Sport BILD.
“(Guler is treated) like a football god. Like the new Messi. But he’s not Messi yet. (Saying that would be) going too fast. The boy has to get into adult football first.”
Real Madrid beat Arsenal and Newcastle to Arda Guler
Both Arsenal and Newcastle held talks with Guler before Real Madrid tied him down to a six-year contract (Turkish Football). Guler’s ‘extraordinary talent’ – and a composure and a footballing intelligence far beyond his years – should at least stand him in good stead in Madrid.
“Arda has an extraordinary talent. He has fine technique, plays strong passes, has a very good sense of space and knows exactly where to run. Arda has its own understanding of football, which you can’t learn,” Kuntz adds.
“He still has to work on his robustness and physicality. Talent alone is not enough.
“His trump card for a great career is when his head says; ‘I’m not satisfied, do not rest. I’m never satisfied, I always want to develop further’.”
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