Real Madrid fans were thrilled by the striking announcement made by club president Florentino Pérez at an event held at the Santiago Bernabeu on May 16, 2025. Pérez announced that 20-year-old Turkish star Arda Güler will wear the legendary number 10 jersey starting in the 2025/2026 season. This decision crowned Güler’s rise at the club and created a huge wave of excitement among the fans. @HalaMadridVN and @FenerFans celebrated on the X platform with posts that read “Arda’s time has come!” Güler will take over this iconic number after Luka Modrić retires in the summer of 2025, and he is preparing to leave his mark on Real Madrid history.
Güler had created huge expectations when he joined Fenerbahçe for €20 million in 2023. However, injuries and limited time have made his first two years difficult. The 2024/2025 season has been his breakout year. According to SofaScore, Güler has scored 6 goals and 10 assists in 40 games, and was especially a hero with his bàn quyết định in the 2-1 win against Barcelona in El Clasico on May 11, 2025. According to Marca, this performance convinced Pérez that Güler deserves the number 10 spot. Ancelotti’s praise of “Arda is the leader of the future” and Cristiano Ronaldo’s comment of “He is talented, but he must be patient” confirm the young star’s potential.
The number 10 shirt carries the legacy of Real Madrid legends 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 at Euro 2024 (youngest goal scorer) and his average of 2.3 successful dribbles per game in La Liga show that he is worthy of the honour. “No. 10 would suit Arda!” @ArdaGulerFans shared the joy on X, but @LaLigaTalk noted that some fans were expecting Bellingham to take the number.
This decision shows that Real Madrid are investing in Güler for the long term. The club plan to make Güler the nucleus of the attack alongside Bellingham and Rodrygo, despite the return of Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. in the summer of 2025. According to Fanatik, Güler is expected to get more playing time in his new role, especially as he will take on the creative midfield role following Modrić’s departure. However, some accounts, such as @FootballCriticX, believe that the pressure of the number 10 position could be too much for Güler’s young shoulders. Nevertheless, Güler showed his determination by posting on Instagram, “I will give everything for this shirt.”
The El Clasico victory and the number 10 jersey are turning points in Güler’s career. With Real Madrid leading La Liga by two points over Barcelona, Güler’s contribution will also be crucial in the 2025/2026 Champions League. Fans believe he will continue Di Stefano’s legacy. In Türkiye, Güler has become a national hero; Hürriyet described him as “the idol of the new generation.” Preparing to shine at the Bernabeu in the number 10 jersey, Güler could shape the future of not only Real Madrid but also world football. This historic moment is an unforgettable source of pride for both Madrid and Türkiye.
