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July 8, 2024
Arda Güler, one of the most promising teenagers in European football, has been making waves at just 19 years old. Highly sought after during the summer transfer window of 2023, the Turkish international attracted interest from multiple clubs. Ultimately, Real Madrid emerged victorious in the race for his signature, and he is now poised to join Los Blancos’ first-team squad for the 2023/24 season.
This summer, he also showcased his immense Talent on the international stage, delivering impressive performances for the Turkish national team during Euro 2024. To help you get to know him better, here are five intriguing facts about Arda Güler.
Arda Güler grew up honing his football skills in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, and in Istanbul, the country’s largest city. He began his football journey at nine, joining the academy of local club Gençlerbirliği. His exceptional Talent quickly caught the attention of scouts from Istanbul’s top clubs. In 2019, just before his 14th birthday, he moved to Fenerbahçe. Güler shone brightly with the U19 team, earning a call-up to the senior squad and making his debut at 16 years and 174 days old in a Europa League qualification match.
Arda Güler made an immediate impact after debuting for Fenerbahçe, quickly earning a call-up to the Turkish national team. He has amassed four international caps and scored his first Goal for the Crescent Stars in his latest appearance, a Euro 2024 qualifier against Wales. This Goal, scored in March 2023, made him the youngest player to score for the Turkish national team in a competitive match. He achieved this remarkable feat at 18 years and 114 days old.
Güler is often compared to former Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Özil, and he had the unique opportunity to learn from him during Özil’s time at Fenerbahçe. After Özil left the Istanbul club in the summer of 2022, Güler took on the responsibility of wearing the iconic No. 10 jersey, which holds special significance at Fenerbahçe, previously worn by the legendary Alex De Souza. Growing up idolizing the Brazilian, Güler approached the pressure of donning the No. 10 with remarkable maturity, proving himself capable of stepping into such big shoes.
Arda Güler’s impressive left foot and silky smooth touch can be attributed to his father’s encouragement and innovative training methods. When Güler was just a toddler, his father, Ümit, strategically placed balloons in front of his left foot, motivating him to practice kicking with that side. “We didn’t have any left-footers in our family, so I placed balloons and footballs in front of his left foot to help him use it more,” his father explained in an interview with Goal. This simple yet effective technique helped develop Güler’s natural Talent. It instilled confidence in using his left foot, a hallmark of his playing style.
While at the Gençlerbirliği academy, Güler had the unique opportunity to work as a ballboy during specific matches, a memorable experience for the young footballer. In one particularly notable game in 2018, when his club’s senior team faced Trabzonspor, the away side was awarded a penalty. Positioned close to the Goal, Güler felt a strong intuition about where the penalty taker was aiming and shouted to his team’s goalkeeper, Johannes Hopf, to dive to the right. Following Güler’s instincts, Hopf jumped in the exact direction, called out, and successfully saved the penalty kick. This moment showcased Güler’s keen understanding of the game, even at a young age, and highlighted his leadership qualities as he took the initiative to guide his goalkeeper in a crucial moment.
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