Mourinho's new plan with Arda Güler

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30/08/26 17:00:00

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José Mourinho has a plan for Arda Güler. The transfer market of Madrid may be closed, which is why Mou can convert positions. The Real Madrid coach has explained on El Chiringuito that he sees the Turk following a similar evolution to that of Luka Modric and Bernardo Silva: starting as a '10' and gradually moving back his position to act as a '8' or even as a '6'.

Mourinho wants Arda Güler to stop being just a '10'

Mourinho's statement helps understand what he intends to do with Güler in the coming years. The Portuguese doesn't want to limit the Turk to playing between lines and near the area, but to gradually increase his involvement in the game buildup.

Güler, 21 years old, has already shown ability to play as an attacking midfielder, but Mourinho wants him to learn to receive deeper, participate in the ball circulation, and take on more responsibilities when the team needs to control possession. Last season ended with 16 assists and 119 chances created, according to Stats Perform data.

The Real Madrid coach was very specific in his explanation: he believes Güler could experience something similar to what happened with Modric and Bernardo. "You start in one position and end up in another," Mourinho explained when referring to the Turk's transformation.

The new Özil that Mourinho can turn into a midfielder

The comparison with Mesut Özil makes sense from the starting point, though Mourinho did not use the German's name in the interview. During his first spell at Real Madrid, Özil was the team's primary attacking midfielder and played ahead of the double pivot typically formed by Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira.

Güler may initially occupy a space similar to Özil's: receiving between lines, speeding up circulation, and finding the final pass. The difference lies in the evolution Mourinho envisions for the Turkish player.

Instead of remaining as a '10' throughout his career, Güler could end up becoming a midfielder capable of playing closer to the base of the play. This transformation would significantly broaden his possibilities within Real Madrid.

⚪️🇹🇷 José Mourinho: “I love Arda Güler! He’s a top player”.

“I believe with him it's going to be like Luka Modrić… in the end he will end up as a number 8 and then as a 6”. pic.twitter.com/rjQkqUcDuO

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 20, 2026

The example Mourinho uses is precisely Modric, who arrived at the club as an offensive midfielder capable of playing more advanced and ended up becoming one of the great organizers in European football. The coach believes Güler can undergo a similar path due to his evolution and understanding of the game.

Bernardo Silva's role is also a clue

The arrival of Bernardo Silva at Real Madrid further reinforces this idea. Mourinho has explained that he sees the Portuguese as a midfielder who can also play as a '10' or on the right flank, highlighting his ability to occupy different positions.

During the preseason, Mourinho has used Güler and Bernardo at different heights in the midfield as he seeks the combination that works best alongside Valverde, Tchouaméni and Camavinga. There is no definitive lineup yet, but the coach is testing solutions to compensate for the absence of an organizer like Toni Kroos or Luka Modric.

Therefore, the goal with Güler is not simply to find him a place in the 2026 lineup. Mourinho seems to be working on an evolution that could last several seasons: from '10' to '8' and, eventually, even to '6'.

This would turn Güler into a much more complete player and allow Real Madrid to leverage his quality in different areas of the field. The next step will be to see how much Mourinho starts to move back his position once the official matches begin and all midfielders return to the squad.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El nuevo plan de Mourinho con Arda Güler