Arda Guler: Two Reasons Fenerbahce Wanted To Sell ‘Turkish Messi’ to Barcelona, Not Real Madrid

• Arda Guler is dubbed the 'Turkish Messi' and has reportedly joined Real Madrid
• But reports claim Fenerbahce are not happy he chose to play for Los Blancos
• The Turkish club preferred the 18-year-old signed for Barcelona instead

Turkish teenage sensation Arda Guler is set to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Guler chose to sign with Los Blancos despite being heavily tipped to join Clasico rivals Barcelona.

The Catalan giants had been in pole position to sign the 18-year-old, but he will instead join the 14-time European champions.

Although the transfer has not yet been officially announced, numerous sources have suggested that the Whites defeated Barcelona to the youngster's signature.

However, according to Spanish Publication, Mundo Deportivo, Fenerbahce are very angry about this decision. Per the report, the Turkish giants would have preferred to sell the midfielder to Barcelona over Madrid.

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Barcelona wanted to keep him on loan at the Turkish club for a full year before they were ready to sign him.

The Catalans had agreed to a deal with Fenerbahce which would have saw Guler remain in Turkey for 2023-24, before joining next summer. This was because they believed he would not be registered by La Liga now due to their financial issues.

However, Real Madrid will now sign the midfielder, so Fenerbahce will need to find a replacement quickly.

Additionally, the president of Fenerbahce, Ali Koc supports Barcelona, as reported by Tribuna.

Koc reportedly served as the former chairman of Beco, a company that sponsored the Catalans from 2014 to 2022. He, therefore, desired to sell Guler to Blaugrana.

It was Guler who pushed for a move to Madrid and, as he had the last word, Fenerbahce had to agree to sell him to the Whites.

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Ozil's relationship with Arda Guler

During his tenure at Fenerbahce from January 2021 to July 2022, Ozil had the opportunity to play alongside Guler, whom he believes could become a world-beater in the coming years.

However, he believed the young talent should have continued his development in the Turkish Super Lig for another season, despite his impending move to Real Madrid, per Football Transfers.

Guler makes difficult transfer decision

In a related publication, Sports Brief reported that Fenerbahce's young star, Guler reportedly snubbed Barcelona to join their bitter club rivals, Real Madrid, instead.

The 18-year-old, who has emerged as one of the most promising prospects in European football in the vein of Lionel Messi, is reportedly set to sign with Los Blancos.