Jose Mourinho has put an end to speculation over Arda Guler’s future at Real Madrid, confirming that the Turkish talent remains an important part of his plans for the 2026/27 season.
The Portuguese coach made several changes to his lineup for the match against Rayo Vallecano, which Real Madrid won 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Yan Diomande, who joined the club during the summer for a record fee of £120 million, made his first start since completing the transfer.
The Ivory Coast forward played 72 minutes before being replaced by Guler.
The Turkish midfielder came on in the second half and had an immediate impact on the team’s performance. In stoppage time, Guler provided an assist for Kylian Mbappe, who scored Real Madrid’s fourth goal.
Mourinho praised Diomande’s performance but also stressed that rotation will be unavoidable during a long season.
“Arda has a major role when he is on the pitch. I am 100 percent sure that if Diomande had not started, the first question would have been: ‘Why didn’t Diomande play?’” Mourinho stated.
“You can simply see the quality we have on the bench. Changes will happen from one match to another. Arda has a very positive impact on the team. When he came on, he really made a difference,” the Real Madrid coach added.
Mourinho has therefore made it clear that Diomande’s involvement does not mean Guler has lost his status, as both players are expected to play important roles throughout the season.
