Kevin de Bruyne has described Arda Guler as an “exceptional talent” but believes Turkey must share the responsibility more evenly rather than expecting the Real Madrid midfielder to solve every problem.
The Belgium midfielder made the comments after a hard-fought meeting between Belgium and Turkey, in which he played a central role in his side’s victory. While impressed by Guler’s ability, De Bruyne said the young player was carrying a significant burden for his country.
“I think Arda is doing everything he can for Turkey,” De Bruyne told reporters, in comments carried by Mundo Deportivo. “I do not think it is easy for him because so many people are only looking at him. But Turkey are a good team. Perhaps the situation would be better if other players took more risks and accepted more responsibility.”
Guler has quickly become Turkey’s leading attacking figure, with supporters increasingly looking to him to provide the decisive moment in every match. De Bruyne’s comments underline the pressure that brings, particularly for a player still at the beginning of his professional career.
The current Napoli player also acknowledged that Belgium had prepared specifically to limit Guler’s influence. Belgium’s players kept close watch on the Real Madrid player and attempted to force Turkey’s other players to take a greater share of the attacking burden.
“Everyone knows that he has to be watched,” De Bruyne said. “We tried to focus on him more and shift the responsibility to other players.”
Guler’s status has changed rapidly. He is no longer viewed simply as a promising young player at Real Madrid; opponents are now building parts of their tactical plans around stopping him and assigning him special attention.
De Bruyne also offered a strong endorsement of Guler’s long-term prospects.
“He is an exceptional talent, he plays for one of the best clubs in the world and he is still young, so he will continue to excel,” he said. “The other clubs must study his performances carefully.”
The praise reflects Guler’s progress with Real Madrid this season. He has started to receive more playing time and has shown, during each appearance, an outstanding awareness of space and an ability to influence matches through both incisive passes and accurate shooting.
His development has followed a difficult start in Spain, where injuries and limited opportunities initially restricted his involvement. Guler has since changed that picture, becoming one of the players trusted by the coaching staff and by his team-mates on the pitch.
For Turkey, De Bruyne’s warning points to the need for a broader contribution across the team. Turkey possess a strong group of players, but a better distribution of responsibility would help ensure Guler is not left to carry the side alone and would give him greater support in the pursuit of significant results.
The Belgian’s assessment is also viewed by many observers as a significant recognition of Guler’s potential. Having spent his career facing leading players around the world, De Bruyne’s admiration suggests the Turkish midfielder is progressing towards becoming one of the game’s outstanding midfielders in the years ahead.
