Echoes of the Past, Real Madrid Revives CR7-Özil Magic with Mbappé-Gülen Partnership
The Santiago Bernabéu is witnessing a magical revival. Real Madrid’s blistering start to the 2025/26 season, winning nine out of ten matches across all competitions, is being spearheaded by the electrifying connection between Kylian Mbappé and Arda Güler. This burgeoning on-field chemistry has drawn immediate comparisons to the legendary partnership once forged by Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Özil, a parallel the young Turkish playmaker himself readily embraces.
Speaking to L’Equipe, Güler heaped praise on Mbappé while shedding light on the intuitive bond that has made them Madrid’s new devastating duo. The partnership is central to the positive wave sweeping through the club under new manager Xabi Alonso.
The Xabi Alonso Era Takes Flight
The arrival of Xabi Alonso at the end of last season marked a new chapter for Los Blancos. Despite not having the luxury of a full pre-season, Alonso’s tenure has begun with remarkable momentum. After reaching the semi-finals of the Club World Cup over the summer, the team started the 2025/26 La Liga season with six straight victories. Their near-perfect record of nine wins from ten competitive fixtures, with the sole defeat coming from city rivals Atlético Madrid, underscores the immediate impact of the new regime.
Güler, in particular, has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of Alonso’s tactical system, showcasing his immense potential and expertise. The young Turkish international has swiftly cemented his place in the midfield, operating with flexibility both as a deep-lying playmaker and a more advanced Number 8 closer to the opponent’s box. His stats are compelling evidence of his immediate influence, having already registered three goals and four assists this season. Furthermore, his ability to create chances stands out: no other player in the Spanish top flight has created more scoring opportunities than Güler’s 22.
The Nostalgia of Creation and Clinicality
The comparison to the iconic Ronaldo-Özil tandem is not mere hyperbole. Between 2010 and 2013, Özil provided 31 assists to Ronaldo, showcasing a sublime connection defined by the German’s vision and the Portuguese star’s clinical finishing.
The Mbappé-Güler dynamic perfectly mirrors this blueprint: the Turkish prodigy’s superb vision and technical precision providing the perfect service for the world’s most lethal finisher. All four of Güler’s assists this season have directly set up Mbappé, who is currently in sensational form, having netted 14 goals in just 10 appearances.
Güler’s comments confirmed the instinctive nature of their link-up, a relationship built on mutual respect and tactical intelligence.
“The quality of his [Mbappé’s] game and my quality are aligned,” Güler told the French publication. “We understand each other perfectly, the connection is fluid. Sometimes we speak before the match and say, ‘Today, we have to do this or that.’ And sometimes, just a glance is enough.”
Freedom for the Genius
The Turkish star also offered a staunch defense of Mbappé’s positional freedom on the pitch, a key tactical ingredient in their combined success that reinforces Alonso’s authoritativeness in giving his star players autonomy.
“Some people say he descends into the midfield too often, but I think we have to let him play wherever he wants,” Güler argued. “His talent must be given freedom. If he moves into midfield and drops back a little, it is not without reason. He has the knowledge to do that; he understands the demands of the game.”
This acknowledgment of Mbappé’s tactical intelligence is key to understanding why their relationship works. Güler acts as the facilitator and Mbappé, armed with experience at the elite level, is given the positional freedom to disrupt defenses.
The final word on the comparisons came from Güler himself, who embraced the historical nod while focusing on collective ambition. “I like the comparison between Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Özil and Kylian Mbappé and Arda Güler. They achieved great things, but significant success is always achieved by the team, never just two players.”
This philosophy-focusing on team success while leveraging individual brilliance-is the definitive blueprint for the new era at Real Madrid, promising a season where the echoes of legendary magic will sound louder than ever.
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