Arda Guler’s ultimatum to Ancelotti as Mourinho seeks return to Fenerbahce

Real Madrid’s young talent Arda Guler has confronted head coach Carlo Ancelotti, expressing his frustration over minimal playing time.

Despite a successful Euro 2024 campaign for Türkiye, Guler has struggled to break into the main squad at Real Madrid.

According to Spanish reports, the 19-year-old directly addressed Ancelotti after being benched in a recent match against Atletico Madrid, saying: “If you don’t think I’m good enough, I’ll leave.”

• Arda Guler has played just 292 minutes across 11 appearances this season, a situation that has driven him to consider his options in the January transfer window if he remains on the sidelines.

Jose Mourinho plans Arda Guler’s return to Fenerbahce

Fenerbahce’s head coach Jose Mourinho has made a direct move to bring Arda Guler back to Türkiye on loan, believing regular game time will support the midfielder’s development.

Mourinho has reportedly contacted Real Madrid President Florentino Perez, aiming to secure Guler’s return to Fenerbahce for the second half of the season. He believes Türkiye offers the ideal environment for Guler to grow and use his skills fully.

Sources reveal Mourinho’s view that Arda Guler’s limited opportunities in Madrid could impact his progress, making Fenerbahce a suitable platform where he can contribute immediately.

Carlo Ancelotti resists pressure to give younger players time

Ancelotti’s lineup choices continue to generate controversy. Amid back-to-back losses, including a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona and a 3-1 loss to AC Milan, Ancelotti has resisted calls to rotate the squad with younger talents like Arda Guler and Endrick.

Endrick is ready to play. He’s doing fantastically and he show such quality in training. I would say the same thing about Arda, they’re young and they’re putting pressure on the others. 

Could the collective approach to coming through this period as quickly as possible involve Endrick? I think so. Could Arda be involved? I believe so as well.

But our goal is to come through this rough patch as quickly as we can, not give game time to those players. Arda could well be involved in the process because he’s in great shape, and the same goes for Endrick.

Ancelotti shared

Mourinho’s attempt to negotiate a loan move with Perez has not yet swayed Ancelotti, whose emphasis on stability keeps younger players like Guler on the bench.

Barcelona’s media calls him ‘Burn Guler,’ saying club dodged bullet

Media outlets in Barcelona, including FC Barcelona Noticias, have pointed to Guler’s struggles as validation of their club’s decision to avoid signing the young Turkish star last year.

Barcelona initially pursued Guler before Real Madrid secured him, but their management opted to give priority to other young prospects, citing concerns about Guler’s ability to adapt to La Liga immediately.

This choice now resonates with Barcelona supporters, who note that Guler’s limited impact at Real Madrid aligns with the club’s cautious approach.