3 hours ago
25
Arda Guler is in the starting lineup for Real Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Real Betis on September 4, 2026, marking another step forward for one of European football’s most exciting young midfielders.
The 21-year-old Turkish international will line up alongside Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde in what is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing midfield trios in the division.
From substitute cameos to fixture
Guler’s journey at Real Madrid has been anything but linear. He arrived from Fenerbahce in 2023 for a fee estimated between €20 million and €26 million, and the early months felt more like a holding pattern than a breakthrough.
Those questions have been answered over the past two seasons. Guler now has 74 La Liga appearances for Madrid to his name, with 14 goals across that stretch.
The 2025-26 season was where things clicked. He earned consistent starts, recorded a memorable 68-meter goal against Elche, and was named the La Liga U23 Player of the Month for September 2025.
His relationship with this particular opponent has already produced a highlight. Back in January 2026, Guler came off the bench against Betis and assisted a goal shortly after entering the pitch, with Madrid running out 5-1 winners.
Where Guler fits in Mourinho’s Madrid
Jose Mourinho is not a manager typically associated with nurturing 19 or 20-year-olds into first-team regulars. His track record leans toward experienced players who understand their role and execute it without needing their hand held through a difficult defensive phase.
The midfield trio of Guler, Bellingham, and Valverde is worth pausing on. Bellingham provides the box-to-box dynamism and late runs into the area that Madrid have built attacks around since his arrival. Valverde brings relentless pressing energy and the kind of defensive discipline that allows the other two to take risks higher up the pitch. Guler, operating between the lines, provides the creativity and technical precision that can unlock a low defensive block.
In the current 2026-27 season, Guler has contributed one goal and one assist across his first three La Liga appearances.
The table and what this match means
Real Madrid head into the Betis game level on points with FC Barcelona after three matches.
Guler’s starting inclusion suggests Mourinho sees the Betis defensive shape as one suited to a player who can find pockets of space and combine quickly with Bellingham and Valverde. Betis tend to press high and leave space in behind, which rewards the kind of quick combination play that Guler has made his signature.
At 21 years old, born February 25, 2005, Guler is still operating on the ascending portion of his development curve.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
English (US) ·