Arda Güler’s season at Real Madrid has started slowly, with the young talent logging just 307 minutes across 12 games, only three of which he started. This limited involvement has raised concerns in Turkey, where fans and analysts are eager to see him flourish.

Among those voicing their opinions is Turkish soccer legend Mustafa Denizli, who played nearly 400 games for Altay Izmir and Galatasaray, scoring 124 goals, and later won league titles as a coach with Turkey’s “big three.” Denizli, now a TV commentator, offered a critical assessment of Güler’s current trajectory at the LaLiga club, suggesting it is far from ideal.

Concerns over Güler’s fitness

Denizli’s critique extended to Güler’s performance in Turkey’s recent 0-0 draw against Wales. “He showed immaturity during the match,” Denizli remarked. “It’s normal for a player in his situation—he’s not at the same level he was when he left for Real Madrid. He doesn’t seem happy there,” the Alçati-born former star concluded.

During that match, Turkey’s coach Vincenzo Montella decided to substitute Güler for Kaan Ayhan in the 86th minute, with the game still goalless. In the post-match press conference, Montella explained the rationale behind the decision: “It’s never easy to take off a player like him. He’s a unique talent.

“However, he hasn’t had consistent playing time before this game, and I had concerns about his physical condition. Kaan’s introduction gave us the strength we needed in midfield.” Montella’s comments subtly underscored the challenges Güler is facing at Real Madrid, where his lack of regular minutes is becoming increasingly apparent. This is not an isolated case at the club, either, with young forward Endrick also taking another wrong turn at Los Blancos.