Real Madrid’s victory overshadowed by focus on Arda Guler’s post-match behavior

Following Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Real Betis, Spanish media outlets have zeroed in on the actions of Turkish midfielder Arda Guler, who left the pitch immediately after the final whistle, bypassing the typical post-match celebrations with his teammates.

Diario AS highlighted that Guler, despite showing promise in his limited appearances, has not yet secured a consistent place in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting lineup. The newspaper noted, “The Real Madrid player remains in the background at the start of the season. Despite his solid performances in the minutes he’s played, Guler is not yet an undisputed starter for Ancelotti. He wasn’t even among the usual substitutes against Real Betis, making no contribution to the match.”

The publication also pointed out Guler’s noticeable departure from the field: “The Turkish player didn’t stay on the pitch to celebrate the victory with his teammates. While the other substitutes congratulated their teammates, Guler headed straight to the dressing room with a serious expression. This did not go unnoticed at the Bernabeu.”

El Mundo provided further context on Guler’s situation, mentioning that Ancelotti had tried the Turkish midfielder alongside Luka Modric after injuries to Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham. However, neither player convinced the Italian coach. “Ancelotti has yet to find a natural alternative to Toni Kroos who can be key to the team’s rhythm,” the paper noted.

Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo emphasized that Ancelotti initially opted for Guler to fill in for Bellingham after his injury, alongside Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni. However, this strategy did not yield the desired results. “In the Las Palmas match, Ancelotti replaced Guler with Modric, but this change didn’t work in Real Madrid’s favor. Against Betis, Ancelotti chose Dani Ceballos, but he too failed to seize the opportunity,” the report stated.

Guler, who joined Real Madrid last season, has struggled with injuries, limiting his playing time. So far this season, he has featured in just 97 minutes across three matches, starting only once.

On August 25, following a match against Real Valladolid, where Guler was included in the starting lineup, Ancelotti addressed the media, explaining his decision. “I had a tough choice between Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler. But I decided to start Arda because I believed this home match would be an important part of his development process at Real Madrid,” the coach stated.

As Guler continues to navigate his early days at one of the world’s most prestigious football clubs, the spotlight remains firmly on his progress and integration into Ancelotti’s plans.