“Speak slowly, I’m a bit nervous.” And out emerges Arda Güler, wearing a shy smile, stepping into the mixed zone for the first time, surrounded by questions and cameras. Though only 20 years old and with two seasons at Real Madrid, this Club World Cup is turning into a small revelation for the young Turkish player, both on and off the field. The arrival of Xabi Alonso seems to have transformed him into a new focal point for the team, delivering a solid second half performance against Al Hilal. The club, aware of the Turkish passion that ignites on social media, opened the media spotlight for Güler ahead of the match against Pachuca, marking his first appearance since the press conference announcing his signing, which he followed up with a media appearance after scoring against the Mexican side.
“In English,” he requests from journalists. His answers are crisp, short, and articulated in an easily understandable accent, while he keeps his hands clasped behind his back, standing tall to ease the tension. “What do you want?” he jests in Spanish when asked for any words in the language. “Everything is good with the coach now. Let’s see,” he chuckles, participating in his own self-deprecating humor regarding his Spanish abilities. “Better in the center than on the wing,” he analyses, and when pressed by a reporter about his position on the field, he mixes languages due to the understandable nerves of the moment: “Now… I don’t know. No sabe, no sabe. I just want to play. Good feeling.” He exits, thanking the media for their kindness during his debut as a spokesperson for Madrid.
Alaba and Rüdiger: Essential Mentors
Hours later, Alonso named him a starter for the second match in the tournament, where Güler shone, scoring his first goal in the Club World Cup , becoming the axis of Madrid’s play. A visibly more relaxed Güler returned to the mixed zone, smiling and making light of the occasion. “In Spanish?” he humorously opened up. “Great pass from Trent, great pass from Gonzalo, great entry… And very good,” he responded, still amid laughter regarding his goal. “I’m happier because I’m in the middle,” he reassured in his timid Spanish.
These interactions in the mixed zone shed light on Güler’s two years at Madrid—months of not playing, of enduring, of physical improvement, and moments when it seemed he struggled to connect with Ancelotti. “I see a player who works, learns, and wants to play. This is a small part of the time I spend with him, and he spends a lot of time with others. This is a lack of communication,” the Italian coach commented earlier this year when Güler’s situation topped headlines.
This communication gap manifested itself in the day-to-day life of Arda, who arrived at the club at 18, having limited English skills and no grasp of Spanish. He leaned on David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger, who spoke some Turkish due to growing up with immigrants in Vienna and Berlin, as well as Thibaut Courtois, who had played alongside Arda Turan in Atlético. But even then, the learning curve was steep.
Güler’s shot that led to a 2-0 lead against Pachuca in Charlotte.
In the locker room, he is affectionately called “Arda Abi,” which reflects a communication issue. The young Turkish player, dubbed “a very, very polite boy” by those in Valdebebas, initially addressed veterans like Luka Modric with ‘Abi’, meaning “older brother” in Turkish. Some in the locker room mistakenly believed this term was inclusive for all. “Good morning, Arda Abi,” they now greet him.
Thus, after two years, ‘Arda Abi’ has transitioned from the bench to the starting lineup and from the locker room to the mixed zones. He accepts the spotlight of Madrid with grace, and Xabi Alonso is thankful for it: “He’s one of those players who needs to be close to the ball. The more touches he gets, the better he will play. The other day he had a great game,” the coach asserted.
“There’s a lot more to come from Arda,” Güler replied in his closing remarks to the media. This weekend has propelled him further into the spotlight.