Arsenal abandons the player hailed as Real Madrid's 'wonderkid'

Arsenal has formally stepped back from pursuing Arda Guler, as Real Madrid firmly holds on to the 20-year-old prodigy who is flourishing under the guidance of manager Xabi Alonso.

According to Fichajes, Arsenal once considered Arda Guler a top transfer target, but the deal is now closed. The Turkish attacking midfielder, currently playing for Real Madrid, is no longer part of coach Mikel Arteta’s plans following personnel changes in the recent summer transfer window.

Even before Guler joined Real Madrid in 2023, Arsenal had shown special interest. At that time, the 2005-born player was regarded as one of Europe’s most promising talents after his impressive performances at Fenerbahce. The transfer, worth over 20 million Euros, which brought him to Santiago Bernabeu, caused a significant stir and left many English clubs disappointed.

During the 2024 summer transfer window, Arsenal reconsidered signing Guler, with coach Arteta even viewing him as a potential replacement for Martin Odegaard, whose form has declined. However, the arrival of new players like Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, and Noni Madueke shifted the strategy. The Arsenal management believes the attacking lineup now has sufficient depth and sees no reason to continue pursuing Guler.

In his first season under Carlo Ancelotti, injuries and fitness issues made it difficult for Guler to adapt. But since Xabi Alonso took over, he has made significant progress.

In just the last seven matches, the 20-year-old has played over 500 minutes, scoring 2 goals and providing 2 assists. This has helped him gradually earn the coaching staff’s trust and become a strategic option in Real Madrid’s squad rotation system.

With his technical skills, creativity, and refined ball control, Guler is regarded as a standout figure among the new generation of players at Bernabéu, alongside Jude Bellingham and Endrick.

Arsenal’s withdrawal also means the Premier League is unlikely to see Guler in the near future. A few months ago, the prospect of Guler moving to England was quite realistic. However, his growing importance at Real Madrid has made such plans unlikely.

Sources from Spain confirm that Real Madrid has no intention of letting Guler leave, despite rumors of interest from major clubs. The club’s leadership views him as a “long-term investment” and is unwilling to entertain any offers.

At 20 years old, Arda Guler still has a long way to develop. His current priority is to keep improving himself and aim to become an indispensable pillar at Real Madrid.