According to a report by Madrid Universal on Wednesday October 28, 2026, Arda Guler is strengthening his position as one of Jose Mourinho’s most trusted players at Real Madrid following a series of impressive performances, according to reports from Spain.

The Turkish international played a crucial role in Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona in El Clasico, further convincing Mourinho that he deserves an important place in his plans.

Guler remained on the pitch for 94 minutes against Barcelona, helping initiate the attacking move that eventually produced Kylian Mbappe’s decisive winning goal in the highly anticipated encounter.

His growing influence has reportedly placed him alongside Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham and Mbappe among the players Mourinho considers indispensable to his Real Madrid project.

The manager’s decision to keep Guler involved throughout the decisive stages of El Clasico proved significant, particularly considering the midfielder’s previous tendency to be substituted before matches reached their closing moments.

Rather than withdrawing the youngster early, Mourinho trusted his creativity and vision, allowing him to influence the contest when Madrid needed quality and composure to secure victory against their fierce rivals.

Guler’s involvement in Mbappe’s winner highlighted his ability to create opportunities through intelligent passing and movement, demonstrating that his importance extends beyond simply scoring goals or providing assists.

The 94th-minute substitution also represented a personal milestone for the midfielder, marking his longest appearance as a starter this season and underlining the confidence Mourinho placed in him.

Previously, Guler had been withdrawn before the final stages in each of his eight earlier starts this campaign. His longest previous appearance as a starter lasted 78 minutes against Sevilla.

That pattern changed dramatically against Barcelona, with Guler remaining involved until the closing moments and rewarding his manager’s faith through his contribution to the decisive attacking sequence.

His performances have also produced impressive numbers this season. Across 12 appearances, the Turkish playmaker has registered four goals and three assists, making him Madrid’s second-most productive attacking player behind Mbappe.

Guler’s technical quality, creativity, awareness and ability to operate within Mourinho’s tactical system have made him increasingly valuable to a team filled with outstanding attacking talent.

With competition for starting positions remaining fierce at the Santiago Bernabeu, the midfielder’s consistent performances and growing relationship with Mourinho could prove decisive in securing his long-term role.

If Guler continues performing at this level, his status alongside Valverde, Bellingham and Mbappe as one of Mourinho’s untouchable players could become increasingly difficult for other teammates to challenge.