Arda Güler praises Lamine Yamal's talent ahead of Turkey-Spain

Spain visits Turkey this Sunday (20:45 CEST) for the second matchday of the UEFA qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. In the run-up to the match to be played in Konya, Arda Güler spoke about the talent of the main star of La Roja and FC Barcelona, Lamine Yamal.

Beyond the rivalry between Barça and Real Madrid, the 20-year-old did not hesitate to praise the culé '10'. Arda was very close to signing for the azulgrana team in 2023, but the 'merengues' went ahead paying more money to Fenerbahçe (20 million euros fixed plus another 10 'kilos' extra in variables). 

Arda Güler does not hide his admiration for Lamine Yamal

"I am not surprised by what Lamine Yamal is doing because he has a lot of talent. He is going to do his best to put us in difficulties, but we also have a lot of potential and we are going to play with a lot of confidence," he said regarding Spain's visit to Turkey.

Güler was a starter in the victory against Georgia last Thursday (2-3), a result with which the Ottoman team has the same points as Spain (3). The Real Madrid midfielder played 86 minutes and gave the assist for his team's first goal.

Lamine Yamal vs Arda Güler: the duel that everyone expects in the Turkey-Spain

Regarding the duel in Konya, Lamine and Arda are emerging as the main offensive cards for a high-voltage match. Yamal also gave an assist in La Roja's thrashing of Bulgaria (0-3), a match where the '10' of Barcelona came out in the complement with back pain.

Lamine Yamal during the Bulgaria 0-3 Spain of the 2026 World Cup qualifier.

However, the Mataró native has overcome his discomfort and trained with the group on Saturday. Therefore, Lamine's starting position is expected, in what will be his first match against Güler in 25/26. Last season, in Clásicos, the azulgrana youth player was a nightmare for the whites, with 3 goals and 2 assists in 4 matches.

Arda, on the other hand, was only a starter in the last match between Barça and Madrid in the League (4-3), although he could not do anything to avoid the fourth defeat in a row of the 'merengues' against the Catalans.

This season, the Ankara native has earned a starting position with Xabi Alonso, taking advantage of the downturn of Rodrygo Goes and the injury of Jude Bellingham. For now, he has one goal and one assist in 3 matches.

Regarding the match against Spain, the 20-year-old expressed his excitement to face Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal, his teammates at Real Madrid. In addition, he reiterated his respect for Spain, the best European team of the moment.

"It is a key match because the two teams are playing for the first place. Surely Spain's possession will be greater but we will press and we will try to impose our game", pointed out the '15' of the 'Casa Blanca'.

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