For his second spell in charge of Real Madrid, José Mourinho has already identified one of the players he believes could become a key figure in his new project. According to reports surrounding the club, the Portuguese manager sees Arda Güler as a footballer capable of playing a role similar to the one Mesut Özil occupied during Mourinho’s first tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Since arriving from Fenerbahçe in the summer of 2023, Güler has regularly been compared to the former German international. While their Turkish heritage naturally sparked those comparisons, it is their style of play that has truly fueled the discussion. Both possess exceptional technical ability, outstanding vision, remarkable creativity, and the rare talent to unlock even the most organized defenses with a single pass. Their elegance on the ball and ability to dictate attacking moves have made the comparison increasingly convincing.
Mourinho knows better than most how valuable a player with those qualities can be. During his first spell at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, he transformed Mesut Özil into one of the most productive playmakers in world football. Under the Portuguese coach, the German midfielder became the creative engine of the team, consistently supplying Cristiano Ronaldo with perfectly timed passes and helping the Portuguese superstar produce some of the most prolific goalscoring seasons of his career.
Now Mourinho hopes history can repeat itself.
This time, the manager believes Arda Güler could become the main creator behind Kylian Mbappé. The French forward is entering what many expect to be another outstanding season, and Mourinho reportedly sees tremendous potential in building a strong partnership between the two players. A technically gifted playmaker capable of finding Mbappé’s runs behind defensive lines could become one of Real Madrid’s biggest attacking weapons.
Signs of that chemistry already appeared last season. Whenever Güler and Mbappé shared the pitch, they showed encouraging understanding in the final third. The Turkish international repeatedly demonstrated his intelligence in possession, while Mbappé’s movement created spaces that suited Güler’s passing range. Mourinho is believed to be eager to strengthen that connection during preseason and turn it into one of the team’s defining tactical combinations.
However, Güler’s place in the starting lineup is far from guaranteed.
Last season highlighted his versatility, as he was deployed in several different roles depending on the team’s needs. He featured as a traditional number 10, operated on the right wing, played as an advanced midfielder, and was occasionally asked to drop deeper to help build attacks from midfield. While this flexibility underlined his football intelligence, it also prevented him from establishing himself in one clearly defined position.
The upcoming preseason could therefore prove decisive for his future.
With several weeks of training under Mourinho, Güler will have the opportunity to convince his new coach that he deserves a permanent place in the starting eleven. Mourinho has always valued players who combine tactical discipline with technical brilliance, and the Turkish midfielder appears to possess both qualities. If he adapts quickly to the Portuguese manager’s demanding methods, he could become one of the biggest winners of Real Madrid’s new era.
🗣️Jose Mourinho : “Whatever Ozil achieved under me, i promise Arda Guler will achieve 10 times” pic.twitter.com/hTzqDC2UP0
— PITCH•PULSE (@pitchpulse_X) June 10, 2026
For Mourinho, the objective is clear: build a team capable of maximizing Mbappé’s goalscoring ability while creating a balanced and dynamic attacking system. If Arda Güler can evolve into the creative force Mourinho envisions, Real Madrid may once again possess the kind of playmaker who defines matches with intelligence rather than physical power.
Whether he ultimately reaches the level once achieved by Mesut Özil remains to be seen. But under José Mourinho’s guidance, Arda Güler has a genuine opportunity to develop into one of Europe’s elite creators and become the orchestrator of Real Madrid’s next generation.
