"I was extremely excited!" - Arda Guler opens up on Real Madrid offer that convinced him to join them instead of Barcelona
Arda Guler recently talked about why he chose to join Real Madrid over Barcelona last summer.
The Turkey international was highly sought after last summer after a successful 2022-23 campaign at Fenerbahçe, where he scored four goals and provided four assists in 20 league games. Top European sides, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, were interested in acquiring his signature.
Despite considering signing for Barcelona, the 19-year-old opted to sign for their arch-rivals on a six-year deal for an initial payment of €20 million. Guler had a tough start to his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu, missing 12 games in total due to a meniscus and muscle injury.
In an interview with KAFA Sports, Guler explained why he chose to join Real Madrid (via Fabrizio Romano):
"While I was on vacation, my father called and said: Real wants you. I was extremely excited! It was my dream since I was a kid, so I was sure of my choice."
Guler also gave another reason during the aforementioned interview (via @theMadridZone):
“The project, they told me that I would be Luka Modric's heir. It convinced me.”
While Guler has the potential to try to replicate Luka Modric's feats for Los Blancos, he still has a long way to go in his development. He has been limited to just 166 minutes of first-team football this season, scoring two goals in eight appearances to date.
Real Madrid considering triggering €50 million release clause to sign Barcelona transfer target this summer: Reports
According to Fichajes (via The Real Champs), Real Madrid are considering signing Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva this summer to bolster their squad, despite Barcelona's interest in the Portugal international.
Silva has been linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season due to his wish for a new challenge. The 29-year-old has been integral for the Cityzens this season, registering 11 goals and six assists in 44 appearances - helping his side challenge for the Premier League title.
Silva has previously stated he would rather join La Blaugrana, however, he has a release clause of €50 million - a value which could prove to be out of Xavi and Co's budget. Los Blancos have reportedly identified him as a potential signing as they look to strengthen their midfield in the summer.