Arda Güler sparks Real Madrid debate after impactful substitute appearance

Real Madrid secured a 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, a match highlighted by the impactful performance of Arda Güler. Entering the game in the 72nd minute as a substitute for Yan Diomandé, the 21-year-old Turkish midfielder provided an assist to Kylian Mbappé and created five key scoring opportunities in approximately 23 minutes of play.

Güler’s efficiency has sparked debate regarding his playing time. Despite averaging only 45.4 minutes per game this season, he leads La Liga in chances created per minute, surpassing Lamine Yamal. Real Madrid manager José Mourinho praised Güler’s quality, stating, “Arda Güler is very, very good. He has immense quality... he made the difference.”

The match also marked the first professional start for Yan Diomandé. While the Ivorian winger showed defensive utility, his overall impact was criticized by some media outlets following his high transfer valuation. Mourinho noted that Diomandé still has much to learn tactically as he continues to adapt to high-level European football.