Arda Güler has been one of Real Madrid’s most consistent performers during the club’s six-game preseason, starting every match and spending much of the summer operating as the attacking midfielder in José Mourinho’s 4-2-3-1.
Güler’s preseason began with a missed penalty against Alcorcón in a friendly at Valdebebas, but the 21-year-old has since established himself as a regular part of Mourinho’s team. He has been used primarily as a No. 10, receiving between the lines and playing closer to the forwards rather than taking on the deeper build-up responsibilities he was often given last season.
The Turkish international finished preseason with two assists, setting up Federico Valverde against Leganés and Dean Huijsen against Schalke. His involvement has been particularly notable because the attacking-midfield position is expected to belong to Jude Bellingham once the squad is fully available.
Bellingham was among the last players to return following the World Cup and has so far played only limited preseason minutes. That could leave Güler in contention to start Saturday’s La Liga opener against Espanyol in Cornellà before Mourinho has his full group available.
Güler returned to Madrid following a World Cup in which he was one of Turkey’s leading performers, although Turkey failed to advance from the group stage. His role with Madrid has changed since last season, when he was frequently asked to receive the ball deeper and contribute more heavily to the construction of attacks.
The addition of Bernardo Silva has given Mourinho another player capable of handling those responsibilities in midfield. That has allowed Güler to spend more time in advanced positions, where he has been used centrally behind the striker.
Mourinho establishes a 4-2-3-1
Güler’s position has been part of a broader tactical change during Mourinho’s first preseason since returning to Real Madrid. The Portuguese coach has primarily worked with a 4-2-3-1, a formation designed to accommodate a line of three attacking players behind a central striker.
Madrid completed its six preseason matches unbeaten, recording five victories and one draw. The team also finished with consecutive clean sheets against Deportivo La Coruña and Schalke and will begin the league season having gone 243 minutes without conceding a goal.
Mourinho has not, however, been able to field his expected starting XI. Several players returned late because of their World Cup involvement, while another group has been unavailable because of injuries.
The anticipated attacking group of Diomande, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé has yet to play together. Vinicius returned earlier and featured in three friendlies, while Diomande and Bellingham only joined the group during the final week of preseason.
Mourinho was able to use Diomande, Bellingham and Vinicius together for approximately 25 minutes against Schalke, with Carlos Espí playing at center-forward instead of Mbappé. It provided the first preseason look at most of the attacking line expected to play behind the French striker once everyone is available.
The 4-2-3-1 has not been Mourinho’s only configuration. Against Deportivo, Bernardo Silva played alongside Camavinga and Valverde during part of the second half, moving between an attacking-midfield role and the left side of a three-man midfield. The variation could offer an indication of how Mourinho intends to change the structure during matches or accommodate Bellingham in different midfield configurations.
Competition remains open in central midfield
One of the main unresolved questions concerns the two positions at the base of Mourinho’s midfield. Tchouaméni, Valverde and Bernardo Silva are among the leading candidates, with Camavinga also receiving significant minutes throughout preseason.
Mourinho has changed the partnership as players have gradually returned to the squad. Camavinga and Cestero started together against Alcorcón before Valverde partnered Camavinga against Leganés. Mourinho kept the Camavinga-Valverde pairing for the matches against Fiorentina and Ferencváros.
Bernardo then started alongside Camavinga against Deportivo before partnering Valverde against Schalke. Tchouaméni has not yet appeared because of a thigh injury, while Thiago has also been unavailable due to a left knee problem.
Camavinga has been Mourinho’s fourth-most-used player during preseason, although his availability has been a major factor in those minutes. He did not participate in the World Cup and was therefore able to begin preseason earlier than several of Madrid’s other midfielders.
With Tchouaméni still to return, Mourinho has not yet been able to test all of the possible midfield combinations before the league season begins.
Defensive lineup still unsettled
Madrid’s first-choice defense has also not appeared together during preseason. Injuries and the staggered return of players from the World Cup have forced Mourinho to rotate extensively across the back line.
At left-back, Marc Cucurella is expected to have a major role after returning as a World Cup winner, but he only played the final half-hour against Schalke. His delayed return, combined with Ferland Mendy’s injury, resulted in Álvaro Carreras finishing preseason with the most minutes of any Madrid player.
Mourinho has divided the right-back minutes between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries. Alexander-Arnold played 241 minutes compared to Dumfries’ 239, although the two have also been used together.
They shared the pitch for approximately 120 minutes during preseason, including the first 75 minutes against Fiorentina and the second half against Deportivo. In those stretches, Alexander-Arnold remained at right-back while Dumfries moved further forward and operated as a winger.
The center-back situation remains similarly open. Éder Militão is expected to remain unavailable until after the first international break, while Raúl Asencio has only participated in the earlier training matches against Alcorcón and Leganés.
Mourinho used Antonio Rüdiger and Dean Huijsen together during the first half against Deportivo and the second half against Schalke. Ibrahima Konaté partnered Huijsen during the opening 45 minutes against Schalke, while academy players have filled several of the remaining center-back minutes.
Until Militão and Asencio return, Rüdiger, Huijsen and Konaté are the primary options for the two central defensive positions. Thibaut Courtois remains the established starter in goal.
Güler, Brahim and Espí provide attacking depth
While Madrid’s expected attacking starters have had limited time together, several of the supporting players have received extended opportunities during preseason.
Güler has been the most frequently used of them, starting all six matches in the attacking-midfield position. The 4-2-3-1 gives him a defined central role that did not always exist in Madrid’s previous 4-3-3, where both Güler and Brahim Díaz were regularly asked to operate in several different positions.
Brahim has been used primarily from the right during Mourinho’s preseason and is expected to provide depth in that position. Güler, meanwhile, has occupied the role normally expected to go to Bellingham.
Carlos Espí has also received significant opportunities at center-forward. The academy striker played against Schalke with Diomande, Bellingham and Vinicius behind him and has emerged as another option for Mourinho in attack.
Endrick had been Mourinho’s preferred center-forward earlier in preseason before Mbappé returned and scored against Fiorentina. Both Endrick and Espí are expected to compete for the minutes available behind Mbappé once the French international is fully integrated.
Madrid turn their attention to Espanyol
Real Madrid now move from preseason into competitive football after six matches in which Mourinho was able to evaluate different formations, midfield combinations and defensive partnerships.
Some decisions remain dependent on player availability. Tchouaméni has yet to feature, Militão remains out, Cucurella has only just returned and several of Madrid’s World Cup participants have had limited playing time. Mourinho has also yet to field the attacking quartet of Diomande, Bellingham, Vinicius and Mbappé together.
The clearest tactical development has been the use of the 4-2-3-1, although Mourinho has already demonstrated that the formation can shift depending on the midfield personnel. Competition remains particularly strong for the two deeper midfield positions and across the defense.
Güler enters the opening weekend as one of the players to have benefited most from the extended preseason. His six consecutive starts and performances as the No. 10 have put him in contention to retain his place when Madrid face Espanyol on Saturday.
Mourinho will begin making those decisions in Cornellà, where Madrid’s preseason experimentation gives way to the first competitive lineup of his second spell in charge.