As Real Madrid prepare to face Juventus in the Club World Cup on Tuesday (20:00 BST), it appears one rising star is already a key figure for new boss Xabi Alonso.
Nicknamed ‘the Turkish Messi’, Arda Guler struggled to live up to the hype last season under Carlo Ancelotti, but the 20-year-old is enjoying a fresh lease of life following the arrival of the Italian’s replacement.
BBC Sport examines the rise, fall and resurgence of a player blessed with enough talent to become one of the world’s best.
2024-25: Guler’s lost season
This time last year, Guler looked poised to take a pivotal role in the regeneration of Real’s midfield.
The former Fenerbahce starlet had finished his first season in Spain in fine style, scoring six goals in just 10 La Liga appearances to aid his team’s title triumph.
Guler further impressed at Euro 2024 for Turkey, most notably with a goal of the tournament contender as he showcased his smooth technique by curling home a delicious 25-yard strike against Georgia.
Right then, he appeared ready to follow in the footsteps of Real team-mates like Vinicius Jr, Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga: teenage recruits from abroad who were signed for their huge potential and quickly blossomed into key performers.
But it didn’t happen. Instead, 2024-25 turned into a lost season.
Ancelotti rarely trusted Guler in big games, with his lack of importance underlined when he was an unused substitute for both legs of Real’s Champions League quarter-final exit to Arsenal.
Guler finished the season with less than 1,800 minutes played in all competitions – the squad’s second-lowest tally (aside from long-term injury absentees) – to spark speculation he may seek to revive his career by leaving Madrid.
But then came Ancelotti’s departure, Alonso’s appointment, and so far nobody has benefited more than Guler.