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Turkish international Arda Guler has reportedly secured a place among Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho's most trusted players following his performance against Barcelona, with Spanish sports newspaper Marca describing the 21-year-old as the club's second-most influential attacking player behind Kylian Mbappe.
According to reports in the Spanish media, Guler has moved into a group of players considered essential to Mourinho's plans, alongside Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham and Mbappe.
The midfielder's growing importance means he is now unlikely to be substituted unless Real Madrid has established a comfortable lead, marking a significant change from earlier in the season.
Guler's performance against Barcelona in El Clasico, the high-profile rivalry between Spain's two biggest clubs, reportedly strengthened his position within Mourinho's squad.
The Turkish midfielder played the full 90 minutes, a notable change after being regularly substituted in the second half of earlier matches, even when he started.
Those early substitutions had drawn criticism from sections of the Spanish media, which questioned Mourinho's decision to take off a player who was increasingly contributing to Madrid's attacking play.
However, his latest display against Barcelona appears to have shifted that assessment, with Marca reportedly placing him among the players Mourinho is reluctant to take off while matches remain competitive.
Guler's emergence as a central figure in Real Madrid's attack has also been backed up by his performances throughout the season.
Across 12 appearances in all competitions, the Türkiye international has scored three goals and provided five assists, bringing his total direct goal contributions to eight.
Marca highlighted his consistency and influence in attacking situations, describing him as Real Madrid's second-most effective offensive player behind Mbappe, who has also enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign.
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Reflecting on his El Clasico performance, the Spanish newspaper emphasized that Guler had not only influenced the match but also demonstrated his ability to make a difference at various stages of the game.
His growing role places him alongside some of Madrid's most established names as Mourinho continues to shape his preferred lineup.
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