Tottenham forced to abandon Real Madrid transfer for 'next Martin Odegaard'
Tottenham's hopes of landing Arda Guler, dubbed the 'next Martin Odegaard', have been dashed as the young starlet is set to remain with Real Madrid.
Spurs' claimed interest in the Turkish prodigy has cooled off, with no further pursuit expected in the upcoming transfer window. Guler made the switch from Fenerbahce to Real last summer but has had a mixed first season due to an early injury that sidelined him for the initial months of the 2023-24 campaign.
Despite the competition from established stars like Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, and Rodrygo, Guler has managed to make an impact in his limited game time. The 19-year-old has only racked up 99 minutes over six appearances in La Liga, yet he's netted two goals, including a decisive one in Real's recent 1-0 victory against Real Sociedad, reports the Express.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed any speculation about Guler's departure, praising the youngster after Friday's match: «Arda is going to be a very important player for us in the future, and there is no doubt that he will stay here next year. He could have played earlier because he's training so well.»
Ancelotti also highlighted Guler's potential and unique talent: «He is very young, and little by little he will learn what his role is in this team. He has scored more goals than he has played. That's the gift he has.»
Guler's rise to prominence has been likened to that of Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian made a high-profile move to Real as a highly-touted youngster, but found it tough to break into a squad brimming with world-class talent.
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