Arda Guler: Mourinho plots ‘next Ozil’ role for Real Madrid starlet

Arda Guler’s early World Cup exit with Turkey has handed Jose Mourinho valuable extra time on the training pitch to shape the 19-year-old into what many at Real Madrid believe he can become – a modern-day Mesut Ozil for the European champions.

The Turkish playmaker, who joined Real in the summer of 2023 for €30m, arrived amid immediate comparisons with the German World Cup winner, whose short but dazzling spell in Madrid left a lasting mark on the Bernabeu.

Now, with Mourinho back in charge and Kylian Mbappe installed as the club’s devastating goalscorer, there is growing expectation inside the club that the Portuguese coach can recreate the Ozil–Cristiano Ronaldo axis through a new Guler–Mbappe partnership.

Mourinho targets a new conductor for Mbappe

During Ozil’s three seasons at Real Madrid, it was Mourinho who extracted the maximum from his exquisite passing and vision, turning him into the side’s creative reference and Ronaldo’s favourite supplier.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Mourinho views Guler in a similar light and has made unlocking his full potential one of his key priorities for the coming campaign.

The report says the coach is particularly keen to exploit the understanding already visible between Guler and Mbappe – especially in the early part of last season – which has evoked memories at Valdebebas of the fluid link-up once shared by Ozil and Ronaldo.

Comparisons rooted in heritage and style

The parallels between Guler and Ozil go beyond their shared Turkish roots. Both are naturally collaborative playmakers, celebrated for their ability to find the decisive final pass in crowded spaces.

Guler has already demonstrated that he possesses the eye and technique for the “killer ball”, yet that alone has not been enough to secure him a regular starting place in Real’s star-studded midfield.

Mundo Deportivo notes several reasons for this, but highlights one in particular: positional instability. Over the course of last season Guler was shuffled across multiple roles – right winger, right-sided midfielder, classic No 10, and even a deeper-lying playmaker – preventing him from fully settling and consolidating his place.

Mourinho, by contrast, is understood to favour clearly defined roles, something that previously allowed Ozil to thrive in the pockets of space between the lines and supply a relentless stream of chances for Ronaldo.

Full pre-season offers Guler a rare chance

Turkey’s early elimination from the World Cup has unexpectedly turned into a major advantage for both player and coach. Rather than arriving late and fatigued, Guler has been present from the opening days of pre-season, able to complete an intensive, uninterrupted preparation period under Mourinho’s guidance.

That, club insiders believe, gives him a significant opportunity to fight his way into Mourinho’s preferred system before the campaign begins in earnest.

For Mourinho, often described in Spain as “el entrenador especial” – the “special coach” – it is also a chance to attempt a familiar experiment: moulding a gifted but still developing playmaker into the creative heartbeat of a team built around a prolific superstar forward.

Long road to becoming a Bernabeu star

Despite clear progress in recent seasons, there is an acceptance in Madrid that Guler still has a considerable journey ahead before he can be considered one of the undisputed stars of the Bernabeu.

Mourinho’s task will be to refine the young midfielder’s decision‐making, consistency and physical resilience while giving him a stable tactical framework in which his strengths – vision, timing and the weight of his passing – can consistently serve Mbappe and the rest of Real’s attacking cast.

If that process succeeds, Real Madrid could find themselves with a familiar-looking formula: a supremely gifted Turkish playmaker, orchestrating attacks for one of the world’s most lethal forwards, under the watchful eye of Jose Mourinho.

Inside the club, the hope is clear – that Arda Guler can move from tantalising promise to defining presence, and that history might just repeat itself for Real Madrid’s latest No 10-in-waiting.