Real Madrid signs Turkish footballer Arda Guler for 6-year contract

By Musa Samur, Erkan Tiryaki and Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish football star Arda Guler has made a name for himself with the team Fenerbahce after transferring from Genclerbirligi at a young age. Guler became a professional footballer from being a ball boy at stadiums and learning football in the youth academy of professional football teams.

The famous footballer was discovered for his talent at the age of 13 at Genclerbirligi Football Academy. He was interviewed by Anadolu reporters recently.

At 13, Guler served as a ball boy in the Genclerbirliği-Trabzonspor match on February 10, 2018.

“It was very nice. I was very excited. My heart thumped, and I heard its voice. Trabzonspor won a penalty. I called our goalkeeper Hopf to jump to the right, and he saved the penalty,” said Arda, emphasizing his excitement.

“During the match, I put myself in the place of the player who took the penalty (Ugur Demirok). The opponent missed the penalty. I told my friends, ‘I would have scored if I took the penalty. At the end of the match, I asked four players for jerseys, but none gave me,” he added.

Guler stated that his idols are the legendary Fenerbahce player Alex de Souza and his current teammate Irfan Can Kahveci.

“Alex is my idol. I also watch Irfan Can Kahveci, who grew up in Genclerbirligi youth academy,” said the young midfielder.

Guler has played in 32 Turkish Super Lig, five Turkish Cup, one UEFA Champions League, 11 UEFA Europa League, and two UEFA Europa Conference League games during his time with the Yellow Canaries.

The young midfielder has tallied nine goals and made 12 assists in these matches.

The 18-year-old bagged the 2023 Turkish Cup, the first trophy of his career, in the last match he played for the Istanbul club.

Turkish wunderkind Arda Guler moved to Real Madrid from Fenerbahce on a six-year contract, the Spanish club confirmed on Friday.