In his heartfelt piece for The Players’ Tribune today, Arda Güler pulls back the curtain on the surreal whirlwind that has taken him from Diyarbakir to the Santiago Bernabéu — from being “too broke to play as Alex Hunter” on PlayStation to becoming the real-life version of the story-mode star.
A Call That Changed Everything
Güler’s journey fast-forwarded in 2022 when he was unexpectedly named to Türkiye’s national team. “They hadn’t even told me,” he recalls, describing how he first saw the news while scrolling through Instagram. From there, his rise was meteoric. Transfer offers began to pour in — but none made him stop in his tracks until his father said two words:
“It’s Real Madrid.”
What followed was a FaceTime call with Carlo Ancelotti that could have been a scene from a movie. The Italian manager — possibly in a Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses — told Arda:
“Maybe not the first year, but you will get chances. When Modrić and Kroos are too old, we could play you in midfield.”
And then the promise:
“Promise me that you’ll come to Madrid. Promise, promise, promise.”
Güler’s reply was simple:
“Of course, Mister.”
He and his father looked at each other afterward and agreed with a Turkish proverb:
“If you are going to drown, drown in the big sea.”
The Real Madrid Welcome
Güler’s early days in Madrid were a blur of awe and awkwardness. His anecdote about not recognizing Raúl — yes, Raúl González — is instantly iconic. When Ancelotti introduced him, Arda was convinced it was another prank. It wasn’t until Kroos and Modrić backed the identity that he reluctantly shook the legend’s hand.
“OK, I’m sorry. You really are Raúl. Nice to meet you, Sir.”
“Everyone was laughing at the boy from Türkiye.”
That innocence earned him a nickname no one expected: “Arda Abi” — Abi meaning “older brother” in Turkish. Alaba and Rüdiger misunderstood the term and began calling him “Abi,” and now the youngest player in the squad is ironically known as the “older brother” of the dressing room.
Modrić, Mentors, and Micro-Moments
What stands out most in Güler’s story are the quiet, beautiful moments. Luka Modrić — a legend Güler grew up watching — now calls him over to take free kicks or tells him to get ready at halftime.
“This legend… was trusting me to turn the game around. I was really moved.”
It’s these moments, not just goals or assists, that make Güler feel like he belongs.
But he doesn’t hide the emotional complexity of being on the bench. When Madrid lifted the Champions League trophy, Güler felt undeserving of celebration.
“I didn’t actually feel like lifting the trophy, because I hadn’t contributed that much on the pitch.”
He shares a scene that could only happen at Real Madrid: standing downstairs on the parade bus, chatting with Kroos and Modrić about José Mourinho possibly joining Fenerbahçe — while his friends frantically text him looking for him on TV, wondering why he isn’t upstairs celebrating.
Patience, Gratitude, and a Big Future
Güler’s story is one of patience — a rare trait in young footballers of his generation. He knows he isn’t starting every game, but he trusts the process, and most importantly, trusts Ancelotti.
“When Ancelotti says that I can become one of the best midfielders in the world, it shows that the club has a plan for me.”
“I was too broke to play as Alex Hunter,” he says. “So I had to become him for real.”
Güler also discusses some of the more underrated challenges of playing for the biggest club in the world.
“Playing for Madrid is actually easy,” he explains. “You know that Modrić will find your run. Vinícius will make even a bad pass look good. The hard part is learning Spanish, adapting to the culture and staying grounded. So it’s good that my family visits me once a month, and that Mom still tells me to tidy my room. She always says that if I wasn’t a footballer, we would be in big trouble.
