Barcelona and Real Madrid are used to battling each other on the pitch and in the transfer market and Los Blancos have won their first skirmish of the 2023/24 season.
On the back of winning a first La Liga title since 2019, Xavi wants to refresh his Barca squad with a mix of youth and experience, and Fenerbahce's teenage sensation Arda Guler had emerged as a target.
However, despite the Catalans' interest, Real Madrid were quickest to convince the highly rated 18-year-old and secured a deal to bring him to the Spanish capital.
🔝 @10ardaguler 🔝#WelcomeArda pic.twitter.com/ERx34U7DX9
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) July 6, 2023
The transfer is a double victory for Madrid, as they frustrated Barcelona in signing another young star, and secured one of the top teenage talents in European football.
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Who is Arda Guler?
Guler's star has continues to rise since his Fenerbahce first-team debut in August 2021, with a series of club records sent tumbling.
In March 2022, he became Fenerbahce's youngest ever goalscorer in Super Lig history, aged 17 years and 21 days, before agreeing a three-year contract extension.
He made his senior debut for Turkey in November 2022 and scored his first goal with a wonder strike in the 2-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win over Wales in June.
🇹🇷 Take a bow, Arda Güler 🔥#EQGOTT | @AlipayPlus pic.twitter.com/qG24mHsUM6
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 19, 2023
Guler spent the bulk of his youth career at Ankara-based Genclerbirligi before joining the Fenerbahce set-up in 2019.
How good is Arda Guler?
The key question for Real Madrid fans now is: just how good is Guler?
The 18-year-old already has almost two years of regular top-flight experience to his name at Fenerbahce, so he is not an untried option for Carlo Ancelotti.
Fenerbahce's decision to give him the outgoing Mesut Ozil's No.10 shirt at the start of 2022/23 showed their faith in him and he backed that up with six goals and four assists across all competitions last season.
👀 D. Locos.#WelcomeArda | @10ardaguler pic.twitter.com/2DuJChPxvL
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) July 6, 2023
The Europa League was the main competition for Guler in 2022/23, with coach Jorge Jesus (now at Al Hilal) looking to manage his exposure to the rigours of the Super Lig, but his impact in the league was still eye-catching.
From players who completed at least 800 minutes of Super Lig action last season, Guler’s rate of 20 ball carries per 90 was the third-highest among midfielders and forwards, and he also ranked in the top 10 for ball carrying distance per 90 (206 metres) within the same group.
His ability to burst inside from the right wing and shoot accurately from distance has emerged as his calling card, and that explosivity was a driving force behind Real Madrid's determination to sign him, as he adds something different to their system.
Real Madrid sign Arda Guler
According to widespread reports in Spain, Barcelona were favourites to sign Guler, but Real Madrid stepped up the pressure with a formal approach that exceeded his release clause.
Los Blancos opted to pay £17m/$21.7m for Guler, £2.1m/$2.7m more than his contracted clause, to secure a transfer and a six-year contract for the teenager.
🆕💎⚽🌪️#WelcomeArda pic.twitter.com/3HkeXk33sM
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) July 6, 2023
Guler is expected to join up his new teammates in the coming days as they prepare for a preseason tour of the USA, with their first La Liga game of 2023/24 scheduled for August 12, away at Athletic Club.
Madrid have previously opted to send new young players out on loan for a season but Guler is set to play a first-team role for Ancelotti in the next 12 months.