Arda Güler, a 19-year-old phenomenon, has started strongly at Euro 2024. But his management by Turkish coach Vincenzo Montella is raising questions ahead of the round of 16 against Austria on Tuesday.
The management of the little prodigy hangs over Vincenzo Montella like a sword of Damocles. Since taking over as Turkey coach in September 2023, the Italian must, in addition to leading the team to convincing results, make the country’s darling child shine. Arda Güler, 19, is the future and already a little bit the present of Turkish football.
The attacking midfielder came into the limelight a year ago when Real Madrid spent €20m to snatch him from Istanbul club Fenerbahce. “He’s an alien for his age.”marveled his new coach, Carlo Ancelotti. Technically adept, creative, daring, Güler makes the crowds stand up. “He is incredibly talented”praised Georgia’s French coach, Willy Sagnol, after Turkey’s victory in their entry into Euro 2024 on June 18 (3-1).
Güler scored his team’s second goal with a long-range shot into the top corner. He was voted UEFA’s man of the match. However, he started the next match, against Portugal, on the bench. “Risk of injury. He couldn’t play more than twenty minutes without increasing the risk.”Montella explained.
The chasuble of discord
A justification that does not entirely satisfy the press and the supporters. On June 23, the day after the defeat against the Portuguese (0-3), a filmed scene sparked controversy during training. It shows Montella taking a bib from the hands of Güler who was about to put it on, and giving it to Yusuf Yazici. The Madrilenian was then invited to train separately, away from the team exercises.
The Turkish Federation responded to this minor scandal with a statement. Güler suffered from a “groin pain” et “a protocol has been put in place” to avoid injury. “In the videos broadcast, the workshop did not correspond to this framework”the Federation specified. And to conclude: “Our fans, whose hearts beat for the national team, should not rely on biased content. We would like to remind you that social media should not be trusted.”
New star on social networks
On these famous social networks, Güler is a hit. According to the Spanish site Sports bets he is the player who has gained the most subscribers on Instagram since the start of the Euro (1 million), ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. A symbol of his popularity rating which has risen sharply over the past three months and his end of the season like a cannonball at Real (6 goals in his last 7 matches), winner of La Liga and the Champions League.
Arda Güler and Vincenzo Montella during the heated end of the match between Turkey and the Czech Republic. Niels Boersema / PANORAMIC
Enough to extinguish the doubts that surrounded him at the start of the season. The Turk had to undergo surgery on the meniscus of his right knee in August, before suffering a series of muscle problems. He had to wait until January 6 to experience his first minutes in the Real jersey. “He overcame it”his father, Umit Güler, proudly noted in the local press.
Although he is still frail and inexperienced (10 caps and 2 goals with Turkey), Arda Güler finds himself elevated to the position of standard-bearer of Turkish football by a people with a sulphurous passion. The Red and Whites are coming out of a lean period, they have not played in a World Cup since 2002 and had not passed the first round of the Euro since 2008. The round of 16 this Tuesday (9 p.m.) against Austria, who came out on top of a group that contained France and the Netherlands, ready to dream.
