“He was also on vacation. The moment was so surreal that it is hard for me to remember the details, but I think I had One of those Hawaiian shirts, sunglasses and I think he even had a cigar“. This is how you remember Arda Güler the video call he had with Carlo Ancelotti In the summer of 2023, in which the Italian coach convinced him to sign for Real Madrid.
The Turkish footballer has made this confession through An open letter in 'The Players' Tribune'in which he reviews his life since he was a child to the present, counting personal anecdotes such as when his father gave him a play station or his attempt that, on the day of his debut in the Fenerbahce, with 15 years, José Sosa (former Atleti and star then of the Turkish club) let him execute a foul.
But the most striking is the part in which he recounts the beginning of his relationship with Madrid. “Told me: 'Arda, you will have a great future here. Maybe not the first year, but you will have opportunities. When Modric and Kroos are too veteranwe could put yourself in the midfield '. Then he said: 'Arda, promise me that you will come to Madrid. Promise it, promote it, promote it. ' I said: 'Sure, Lord', “Güler recalls about that video call in which she decided to sign for Real Madrid.
You will have a great future here. When Modric and Kroos are too veteran, we could put yourself in the midfield
His embarrassing first encounter with Raúl
The Turk also tells an anecdote of his first week in Madrid in which Ancelotti introduced Raúl González, coach of the subsidiary. Güler believed that 'Carletto' was spending a joke And that the person who were presenting him was not the white legend. Ancelotti turned to Kroos and Modric to convince him that, in effect, that man was Raul. There was no way. “They start looking for photos of Raúl in their mobile phones. In the end I give up and say: 'Ok, I'm sorry. You are really Raul. Enchanted to meet you, Lord'”, he explains in his letter.
Arda Güler, after his goal to Celta last Sunday. / Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7
Arda also addresses the few minutes that he is having this season: “I know people in Turkey who want to see me play all the Real Madrid games.
When Ancelotti says that I can become one of the best midfielders in the world, that means that the club has a plan for me
“But being on the bench is not an easy situation. When we won the Champions League, I did not feel like lifting the trophy, because I had not contributed too much in the field. That's why it gave me so much shame when Ancelotti gave me the microphone in the cyber,” adds the young midfielder.
Güler wants the '10' of Real Madrid
In addition, Güler makes a final allegation about his future in Madrid and his desire to inherit Luka Modric's dorsal, who constantly speaks as a football and personal reference: “earlier this year I turned 20. There are still many more dreams in my notebook. I want to become an important player for Real Madrid. I want gain That Champions League. I would also love to carry the 10th of this club. “
