The number 9 sat empty in Real Madrid’s squad list after Karim Benzema left the club, creating a vacancy that fans watched closely.
With Arda Güler’s signing formalized, the young Turkish talent quickly sparked excitement among Real Madrid supporters. Two numbers in the first team were potentially open to him, the traditional 9 and the versatile 25. Yet, in a decision that reflected squad strategy, the number 24 was ultimately assigned to him.
The club’s rules give a specific path for choosing a squad number. A number like 25 can only be worn by an outfield player if all numbers from 1 to 24 are in use and the club opts to list only two goalkeepers in the first team. In practical terms, just hours after his presentation, Güler found that the 9 option could still be reserved for another player, while 24 became the workable choice for him. It is a situation that underscores the delicate balance Real Madrid maintains between tradition, player development, and tactical planning.
Beyond his own future with the team, there is anticipation about how Güler’s path might interact with ongoing questions about Mbappé’s market status and potential transfer moves. The possibility of Benzema’s heir emerging was not something anyone expected to be settled that swiftly, yet it began to shape the early chapters of the Turkish forward’s spell in Madrid.
As the season loomed, there were multiple hypothetical paths for Güler. One route would be the 16 if the club decided to move Odriozola, another would be the 24 if Vallejo shifted out and the jersey became available, and a third would be the 25, provided the nine shirt was covered by another contributor on the roster. It is worth noting how Vallejo had already seen his own numbers reshuffled, giving up number 5 to Bellingham, with a similar exchange affecting Arda.
Historically, in his club of origin Güler wore the number 10, a digit still associated with Modrić in Madrid. The future will reveal whether the young talent can earn that iconic crest and perhaps approach the Croatian star’s level, while donning the Merengues shirt with the same impact and presence Güler is poised to bring to the squad.
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In this evolving landscape, the attention on Arda Güler’s progression within Real Madrid is a window into how the club manages talent development, shirt numbers, and the chemistry of a squad chasing excellence across domestic and European stages. The football world will watch closely as his role crystallizes and his influence on the team grows, both on and off the pitch. [Goal]