Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has backed Turkish midfielder Arda Guler to transition into a deeper midfield role, comparing his potential trajectory to Luka Modric.
Speaking during his first interview on the Spanish television show El Chiringuito, Mourinho expressed high praise for the youngster and outlined how his positioning would evolve. He explained that Guler was likely to follow a path similar to Modric or Bernardo Silva, starting as an attacking number ten before adapting to a deeper central role as an eight or six as his understanding of the game develops.
Mourinho acknowledged that while there was only one Modric and one Toni Kroos, a flourishing Guler could significantly raise the overall performance ceiling of the squad. He noted that he sees Guler evolving in the same way he saw Modric when he originally signed the Croatian midfielder during his first tenure in charge of the Spanish club.
Tactical shift and pre-season form
Guler entered the pre-season with renewed motivation following Turkey's early exit from the World Cup. The early international elimination allowed the midfielder to report for duty on the first day of training, establishing himself as a regular starter in every pre-season friendly under Mourinho.
Throughout the summer fixtures, Guler demonstrated high performance levels alongside Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva, proving central to fluid team movement. Having accepted a patient squad role with limited playing time in his debut campaign, Guler gradually earned greater responsibility and is now considered a serious candidate for starting spots in major fixtures.
Midfield competition and tactical setup
Real Madrid face significant positional congestion in attacking areas, where Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham occupy three established starting positions. The arrival of marquee signing Yan Diomande has further restricted available spots on the right wing, leaving four fixed starting places and only two open slots for several high-profile squad members.
With Bellingham holding the primary central attacking role and Diomande occupying the right flank, Guler's most viable route into the regular lineup is dropping deeper into a double pivot at the base of midfield. While this tactical adjustment is seen as effective for domestic La Liga matches, questions remain regarding the physical demands in the UEFA Champions League. However, Guler previously demonstrated his readiness for top-level encounters during last season's clash against Bayern Munich.
Upcoming test against Espanyol
Real Madrid face their first official test of the season on Saturday when they travel to face Espanyol. The Barcelona-based side enter the fixture following a heavy victory in their league opener and remain a challenging opponent on home turf.
Having logged an extended pre-season workload, Guler is expected to start the match on Saturday. The encounter presents an immediate opportunity for the Turkish international to stake a permanent claim in Mourinho's central midfield unit.
