Real Madrid news: Arda Guler strengthens starting claim after Yan Diomande’s first start

By Naim Beneddra | 13 Sep 2026 14:09, Last updated: 13 Sep 2026 14:15

Yan Diomande was yet handed his archetypal Real Madrid commencement against Rayo Vallecano, but Arda Guler’s interaction from the seat whitethorn lone person strengthened the Turkey international’s presumption successful Jose Mourinho’s attacking hierarchy.

Diomande had been waiting for an accidental to amusement wherefore Real Madrid invested truthful heavy successful him during the summer, having previously been restricted to substitute appearances.

That accidental arrived successful Saturday’s 4-1 La Liga triumph implicit Rayo, with Mourinho selecting the Ivory Coast planetary connected the close broadside of his attack.

However, the 19-year-old struggled to marque a decisive content earlier being replaced by Guler successful the 2nd half.

The opposition betwixt the 2 players past became hard to ignore, with Guler instantly bringing greater invention to Madrid’s onslaught and providing an assistance earlier the last whistle.

Diomande incapable to afloat prehend archetypal Real Madrid start

Diomande’s show was not without encouraging moments.

He showed his acceleration connected respective occasions and produced 1 peculiarly promising tally erstwhile helium bushed 2 opponents earlier cutting inside, though his consequent effort went good implicit the crossbar.

The youngster besides contributed without the shot and did not look overwhelmed by the occasion.

Nevertheless, helium struggled to consistently power Madrid’s attacking play from the right, a presumption which is not needfully arsenic earthy to him arsenic operating from the other flank.

That was capable to pull disapproval successful Spain.

Marca awarded Diomande a 5 retired of 10, the lowest standing among Real Madrid’s starters, arguing that much should beryllium expected from the club’s grounds signing than occasional bursts of acceleration.

AS, meanwhile, described an constituent of “timidity” successful his performance.

The unit surrounding Diomande is inevitably greater due to the fact that of the tremendous concern Madrid made to motion him pursuing his accelerated emergence astatine RB Leipzig.

Moving from 1 of Europe’s astir breathtaking prospects to a subordinate expected to instantly power games astatine the Santiago Bernabeu represents a important step.

His archetypal commencement illustrated that the adaptation process is inactive ongoing.

Guler makes contiguous lawsuit to Mourinho

Diomande’s biggest occupation connected Saturday whitethorn person been what happened aft helium near the pitch.

Guler replaced him successful the 71st infinitesimal and instantly gave Madrid greater creativity and property successful possession.

The Turkey planetary looked comfy demanding the shot betwixt the lines and taking work successful the last third.

He yet registered an assistance arsenic Madrid completed their 4-1 victory, portion his wide publication reinforced the content that helium presently remains up of Diomande successful Mourinho’s thinking.

Antonio Romero summed up that presumption connected Cadena SER, saying: “The starter contiguous is Guler.”

That does not mean Mourinho has already made a definitive judgement connected Diomande.

The Madrid brag has continued to talk positively astir the youngster’s imaginable and understands that helium is inactive adjusting to a antithetic level of anticipation and a caller tactical environment.

However, Guler has 1 evident vantage astatine present: helium is already susceptible of influencing matches immediately.

The Turkish playmaker has go progressively important to Mourinho due to the fact that of his quality to run from the close portion moving into cardinal areas, giving Madrid different originative beingness astir Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

Diomande offers antithetic qualities, peculiarly his gait and quality to onslaught defenders directly, but helium has yet to construe those attributes into accordant extremity merchandise for Madrid.

Saturday was truthful an important accidental alternatively than a last verdict.

The Ivorian yet received the commencement helium had been waiting for, and the Bernabeu assemblage remained supportive erstwhile helium was substituted.

Yet the evening besides demonstrated wherefore Guler had been expected to commencement up of Diomande earlier the game.

Diomande’s archetypal Real Madrid commencement was expected to springiness Mourinho different enactment question.

Instead, Guler’s entranceway whitethorn person provided the clearest reply yet.