The Turkish player has performed his best in Real Madrid's preseason. Since Bellingham hasn't yet found his rhythm, he is expected to start as an attacking midfielder in the first La Liga match against Espanyol.
Arda Guler might be Real Madrid's best player in the preseason. The Turkish midfielder has been the most consistent player throughout the summer and a key figure in the team's performance in the first few matches after Mourinho's return.
However, he started the 2026/27 season by missing a penalty against Alcorcón. Considering it was just a training match with Valdebebas, it wasn't a serious issue. After that, he performed admirably in the role Mourinho assigned him. In the attacking midfield position, he consistently delivered threatening passes, orchestrated plays when needed, and relentlessly searched for dangerous spaces between the defense. For a player who had never played the number 10 role at Real Madrid, this was a quintessential number 10.
He was Turkey's best player at the World Cup, but failed to help the team advance from the group stage. However, this experience has become his motivation. He treats this preseason tournament as an exam he absolutely cannot fail. The competition ahead will be fierce. Mourinho has limited midfield positions, and there are many star players. His direct competitor is Bellingham, who, because he was the last to return to the team, only received a small amount of warm-up time in Gelsenkirchen.
This puts the Turk in a very favorable position, and he has a good chance of starting in the first La Liga match against Espanyol. As for what happens next, we'll have to wait and see, but the football Güle has shown in these warm-up matches strongly suggests he deserves a starting spot. In terms of performance, he's already secured every point he could on the field.
From a footballing and cultural perspective, Güle will remind many Real Madrid fans of Mesut Özil. The latter didn't arrive as a superstar in 2010, but under Mourinho's management, he eventually became a key player in a team that reached the Champions League semi-finals three times in a row. They play the same position and both have equally skillful left feet. This analogy hasn't become a burden; instead, it has excited fans who expect him to shine like that German.
Arda faced a similar situation at this time last season. He then enjoyed Xabi Alonso's trust, and Jude was sidelined with injury, but he was forced to orchestrate attacks from deeper areas. He still hasn't shied away from this task, but with teammates like Bernardo Silva sharing the responsibility, he has more freedom. This couldn't be more suitable for Arda.
