The long awaited debut of Arda Güler happened almost six months after he joined Real Madrid – but it was definitely worth the wait.

The 18-year old Turkish talent joined Real Madrid last summer from Fenerbahçe, and it was a much anticipated transfer as the words linked to Arda Güler’s talent alone made you believe that this guy is truly special.

It’s rarely that a 18-year old boy joins Real Madrid’s first team directly, but in Güler’s side of things this was the case – and if the pressure alone was not enough, Arda was faced with unfortunate events as he had to undergo a surgery, and was then injured twice more during the recuperation periods – making him all of 2023.

2024, has started differently. After great care from the medical staff, Güler has returned to play and showcase the world his talent – a talent that has often been described with amazing superlatives.

People were eagerly waiting for his debut and there were even some that lost patience waiting, but as the club said “what does one or two games more make a difference when we count on him for the long term”, we say that it was worth the wait. Güler is just getting started.

🇹🇷 Arda Güler's debut at Real Madrid:

◻️ 59 minutes played
◻️ 53 touches
◻️ 90% pass accuracy
◻️ 2 key passes
◻️ 1 big chance created
◻️ 3 dribbles completed
◻️ 1 woodwork hit
◻️ 1 shot on target

Only the start! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/igITPoSwAs

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) January 6, 2024

It is only one match, but it can be considered a strong statement.

9 months since he played the last game, making his debut in the biggest club in the world, only 18 years old and with a lot of eyes watching the game only for him – the opponent doesn’t matter, it matters that Güler came into the game, was arguably MOTM and fit in like a puzzle in a team he’s never shared the pitch with.

Some say that the talent is visibly seen even during his warm-ups, we say that the training videos were an indication of what we should expect and Arda today showed us a glimpse of what’s to come.

It’s too early to say as the player is on his first steps, but the first signs are very positive. Hoping that he stays fit and consistent without injuries, Real Madrid look to have a gem in their hands.

It’s now time to work harder for Arda, and for us to wait and see more of him. It’s only the beginning, but the beginning is very bright.

As they, the good day is seen in the morning – we hope with Arda it’s the same. The trust inside the club is clear, the support from everyone is massive, the appreciation from big names within Real Madrid is already at an unbelievable point. Arda has all the tools to write a great chapter at Real Madrid.

The wait was unfortunate, but it was worth it. Welcome to Real Madrid – Arda Güler.