Arda Gyuler: “The call from Ancelotti and my father's words about 'Real' changed my life”
The young star shining in Turkish football in recent years, Arda Gyuler, recalled in detail the process of transferring to "Real Madrid," one of the most important decisions of his life. According to him, this decision marked a turning point not only in his football career but also in his personal life.
Having joined the Madrid team from "Fenerbahce" in the summer of 2023, Arda mentions that he received offers from several famous clubs after being called up to the Turkish national team at that time. However, he decided to respond only to the offer that touched his heart and seemed to shine within him.
“One day my father said to me, ‘We need to talk about an offer.’ I replied, ‘Don’t tell me any offer unless it’s very significant.’ Then my father said, ‘Arda... this is Real Madrid,’” says Arda Gyuler.
These words shook him: “It was a dream. My father and I thought a lot. Is it too early to leave? Because there were offers from many big teams,” he recalls.
However, the decisive moment that radically changed the situation was a conversation with the team's head coach Carlo Ancelotti via "FaceTime."
“When he appeared on my screen, he was in a Hawaiian shirt, wearing sunglasses — perhaps even with a cigar. He started speaking very sincerely: ‘Arda, believe that a great future awaits you here. Maybe not in the first year, but there will be opportunities. When Modric and Kroos finish their careers, you will take their place on the field,’” he said.
Gyuler admits that being mentioned alongside football legends like Modric and Kroos was a true honor for him, and he even struggled to find words during the conversation.
“Ancelotti asked me, ‘Arda, promise me you will come to Madrid. Promise me.’ I said, ‘Of course, sir.’ Then he added, ‘We will talk again. I need to go back to my wife now,’ he said. Haha. At that moment, I felt like ‘extra time’ was running out. As soon as the conversation ended, I looked at my father, and we made the decision.”
According to Arda Gyuler, the moment he was presented as a "Real Madrid" player was memorable for him like a real wedding. Although his contract is for 6 years, this relationship feels like it will last a lifetime.
“When my mother cried, I wiped her tears and kissed her on the face. We have sacrificed a lot to get here. Now our dream has come true. I didn’t have money to play as Alex Hunter on "PlayStation." That’s why I tried to be a player like him in life,” Gyuler concluded sincerely.
Indeed, the most beautiful moments in football are not just about goals and championships, but the realization of dreams that stir the human heart. Arda Gyuler took his first step on this path not with a ball, but with his heart.
