Real Madrid fans were stunned with the surprising announcement made by the president of the club, Florentino Pérez, in an event held at the Santiago Bernabéu on May 16, 2025. Pérez announced that the 20 -year -old Turkish star, Arda Güler, will wear the legendary T -shirt number 10 from the 2025/2026 season. This decision crowned Güler’s rise in the club and created a huge wave of enthusiasm among fans. On the X platform, @halamadridvn and @Fenerfans said: “The time has come!” He celebrated with his publications. Güler will assume this iconic dorsal after the withdrawal of Luka Modrić in the summer of 2025 and prepares to leave his mark in the history of Real Madrid.
Güler generated great expectations when he arrived from Fenerbahçe for 20 million euros in 2023. But the injuries and the limited play time plague him during his first two years. The 2024/2025 season was its year of takeoff. According to Sofascore data, Güler, who scored 6 goals and 10 assists in 40 games, became a hero especially with the goal he scored in the 2-1 victory against Barcelona in the classic on May 11, 2025. According to Marca, this performance convinced Pérez that Güler deserves the number 10. The praise of Ancelotti of “Arda is the leader of the future” Cristiano Ronaldo of “has talent, but must be patient” confirm the potential of the young star.
The 10 shirt carries the legacy of Legends of Real Madrid such as Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskás and Modrić. “Arda has the vision and character to carry the weight of this shirt,” Pérez told AS. Güler’s record in the 2024 Eurocup (youngest scorer) and its average of 2.3 successful dribbles per game in the league show that it is worthy of this honor. @Adagulerfans in X: “The number 10 would be good for Arda!” “He expressed his joy,” but @laligatalk said some fans expected Bellingham to take that number.
This decision shows that Real Madrid has made a long -term investment in Güler. The club plans to turn Guler into the nucleus of the attack with Bellingham and Rodrygo, despite the return of Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. in the summer of 2025. According to Fanatik, Guler is expected to have more play time in his new role, especially because he will assume the role of creative midfield after the departure of Modrić. However, some accounts, such as @footballcriticx, believe that the pressure of being number 10 could be weighing a lot about Guler’s young shoulders. Even so, Güler demonstrated his determination by sharing on Instagram: “I will give everything I can for this shirt.”
The victory of the classic and the 10 shirt number 10 are a turning point in Güler’s career. Although Real Madrid leads the league with 2 points ahead of Barcelona, Güler’s contribution will also be fundamental in the Champions League 2025/2026. Fans believe it will continue with Di Stefano’s legacy. In Türkiye, Güler became a national hero; Hürriyet described him as the “idol of the new generation.” Güler, who prepares to shine at the Bernabéu with the number 10 shirt, can mark the future not only of Real Madrid, but also world football. This historical moment is unforgettable pride for both Madrid and Turkey.
