Xabi Alonso may have discovered Real Madrid’s answer to Florian Wirtz—and he’s already on the club’s books.
Just last month, Liverpool made headlines across the football world by securing the signature of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz for a record-breaking £100 million, plus an additional £16 million in performance-based add-ons.
The German international had drawn interest from Europe’s elite, including Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, but ultimately committed to a five-year contract with the Reds.
In the wake of that transfer, both Bayern and Real have been forced to look elsewhere for creative midfield options—a tough challenge, especially while both sides were occupied with the Club World Cup.
However, Real Madrid’s involvement in the tournament may have inadvertently given Alonso the perfect opportunity to identify a replacement. Despite a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and an early exit from the competition, Alonso used the games to acclimate to his new squad—and in doing so, he recognized the immense potential of young Turkish midfielder Arda Güler.
According to a report by TotalFootballAnalysis, Alonso experimented with Güler in a variety of roles during the Club World Cup. The 20-year-old featured as an inverted winger against Juventus and partnered Aurelien Tchouameni in a double pivot against Borussia Dortmund.
In both matches, Güler emerged as a standout performer, displaying the same quick passing range, creativity, and vision that defined Wirtz’s game at Leverkusen.
While Real Madrid already boast elite midfielders like Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde, none seem to mirror Wirtz’s specific profile as closely as Güler does. Wirtz made 119 appearances under Alonso at Leverkusen, becoming central to the Spaniard’s tactical setup.
Now, it looks like Güler could step into that same role at the Bernabéu, offering the kind of versatility and technical quality that might make him a key figure in Alonso’s plans for next season.
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