Arda Guler disciplined by Real Madrid over 'gestures of rebellion'

Real Madrid punished summer signing Arda Guler earlier this season for a string of disciplinary issues, according to reports in Spain.

Guler, who only recently turned 19, joined Los Blancos for €20m from Fenerbahce prior to the start of the 2023/24 campaign, spurning the advances of rivals Barcelona in the process.

However, the playmaker's start to life in La Liga was curtailed by concurrent knee and muscle injuries, while he has since been largely used in cameo roles off the bench since returning to fitness in 2024.

Relevo report that Carlo Ancelotti has been reluctant to afford game time to Guler due to disciplinary breaches off the pitch, often found staying out late when he was meant to be resting. The club punished him for these incidents, which staff believe have been 'gestures of rebellion' due to his lack of minutes.

Madrid staff argue Guler has not yet earned the right to act so carefree in his time away from the pitch, while other members of the first time are also more trusted to behave well.

Ancelotti is notably against strong sanctions against players for ill discipline as he believes they only make problems worse, but the club felt they had to step in to correct Guler's course.

Guler was praised by Ancelotti for his late five-minute appearance off the bench in Saturday's 4-2 win at Osasuna in which he rattled the crossbar from inside his own half.

"Only great talent can do something like that. It doesn't matter that he didn't score, for us it's a goal," Ancelotti said in his post-match press conference.

Guler has made seven appearances for Madrid across all competitions so far this season, but has tallied only 98 minutes. He scored his first goal for the club in last week's 4-0 thrashing of Celta Vigo.

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