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Uncapped 24-year-old Imran Butt was named in the 17-member squad

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Dec-2020Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq have been ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand, starting December 26 in Mount Maunganui as the duo is yet to recover from their respective thumb injuries. In Azam’s absence, vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan will lead the side.Meanwhile, Pakistan included uncapped 24-year-old Imran Butt in the 17-member squad. Butt was the top run-scorer in the 2019-20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with 934 runs at an average of over 62. Faheem Ashraf returned to the Test squad after missing out for two years while Haris Sohail, who pulled out of the England tour due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was also back in the side. Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan and Yasir Shah continue to retain their place in the squad.Watch cricket on ESPN+

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“Although it will be nearly two weeks to Babar’s injury when the first Test starts, it will be hard on him and the team to play him without any net sessions,” head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said in a statement on Monday. “I remain confident and optimistic that other players will rise to the occasion in Mount Maunganui and use the opportunity to rise to the occasion and put the disappointment of the T20I series behind them.”Pakistan squad for the two Tests•ESPNcricinfo LtdAzam had fractured his right thumb a day after Imam had fractured his left thumb in training sessions in Queenstown last week. They have both not returned to the nets since then and a decision on their participation in the second Test, starting January in Christchurch, will be taken later.Pakistan are carrying two squads – the national team and the Shaheens – in New Zealand that include 34 players out of which 17 are in the Test squad. On the conclusion of the ongoing T20I series in Napier, as many as 10 players – Abdullah Shafiq, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Musa Khan, Usman Qadir and Wahab Riaz – will be released from the national side to join the Pakistan Shaheens for five T20s against the local and New Zealand XI sides.Imad Wasim will be released after the final T20I on Tuesday to travel to Australia to join the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, while Mohammad Hafeez will return to Pakistan. Rauf, who signed with the Melbourne Stars, will stay back in New Zealand for a little longer before flying out for Australia on January 6 after his stint with the Shaheens.Pakistan have already lost the T20I series and are trailing 2-0, after they failed to defend 153 and 163 in the two games.”It is disappointing to lose the T20I series against a well-settled New Zealand side, who utilised their resources and conditions to their advantage,” Misbah said. “We need to up our skill and improve our individual and team performances, including in Tuesday’s match, and the sooner we get these sorted the better it will be in terms of player confidences and team results as 2021 will not be any easier as we have two major events.”Contrary to the T20I side, the Test side appears to be pretty organised and we boast some experienced cricketers, both in batting and bowling departments. With some competitive cricket on the tour now under the belt, I am hoping we will be a better outfit in the longer version of the game.”Sarfaraz Ahmed who is the second-choice wicketkeeper for Pakistan will continue to find a place in a larger squad as Rizwan will become the country’s 33rd Test captain. Just over a year ago, Rizwan had played just one Test and none in three years. Since then he has cemented his place by impressing in Australia, playing at home against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and then having a standout series in England with both bat and behind the stumps. He was given the vice-captaincy when Azam was named the new Test captain to replace Azhar.Pakistan squad for first Test: Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, Yasir Shah.Pakistan Shaheens for T20s: Rohail Nazir (capt & wk), Abdullah Shafiq, Amad Butt, Danish Aziz, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Musa Khan, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz, Zafar Gohar, Zeeshan Malik.

Aston Villa are reportedly providing competition to a top European club for the signing of a "special" attacking player this summer, looking to hijack the deal in the process.

Aston Villa transfer news

Unai Emery is looking to attract top-quality footballers to Villa Park in the summer transfer window, with last season's fourth-place finish in the Premier League aiding the Spaniard, having qualified for the Champions League.

One player who has been linked with a move to Villa is Slovenia international Jaka Bijol, who impressively helped keep Cristiano Ronaldo quiet in his country's eventual loss to Portugal on penalties at Euro 2024 earlier this week. The 25-year-old plays for Udinese at club level.

Jean-Clair Todibo is seen as an alternative centre-back option for the Villans, however, as Emery looks to find a perfect partner for Pau Torres at the heart of the defence. The 24-year-old has been a highly-rated defender for some time, with former teammate Aaron Ramsey once saying of him: "He’s a great guy, a great player and very ambitious, so there is no reason that he can’t go all the way to the top and represent France."

Arsenal attacker Emile Smith Rowe is also seen as a possible option to come in and bolster Villa's squad this summer, having found it increasingly difficult to be a key man for the Gunners. There is no denying the Englishman's talent, but injuries have been a problem for him down the years, which does make signing him something of a risk.

Aston Villa want "special" player this summer

According to a new update from Football Transfers, Aston Villa are interested in signing Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix this summer, hijacking Benfica's move for him in the process.

The Portuguese giants are thought to be "increasingly confident" of snapping up the 24-year-old, but they "face competition" from the Villans because Emery is personally an "admirer of the Portugal international".

The idea of Felix in a Villa shirt is a mouthwatering prospect, considering what an incredibly gifted footballer he is, winning the European Golden Boy award back in 2019 – handed to the most exciting young footballer in Europe. Meanwhile, Alvaro Morata has also lauded his ability, playing with him at Atletico and witnessing his brilliance close up, saying: "The truth is that Joao has a special talent, that last pass."

Admittedly, the attacking midfielder hasn't yet hit the heights many expected of him, considering some thought he would be a truly world-class talent by this point in his career, but he is still young enough to mature further and reach somewhere close to his potential.

Aston Villa racing to sign £49m star who could become their own Gordon

This would be a significant statement of intent at Villa Park.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 5, 2024

The fact that Emery loves Felix as a player suggests he feels he could get the best out of him, and the Portuguese could be the sprinkling of magic on top of an already excellent Villa squad, proving to be a match-winner at key moments and lighting up Villa Park with his technical class.

Pep Guardiola has revealed Kevin De Bruyne's thigh injury is still causing him pain as Manchester City await the playmaker's return.

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De Bruyne absent since September 18Nursing a problematic thigh injuryGuardiola keen for injured stars to returnFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

City have been without De Bruyne since he suffered a thigh injury in the 0-0 draw against Inter Milan on September 18. Guardiola expected to have the Belgian back by now but, although he has returned to training, the 33-year-old isn't yet ready to play a competitive game and will miss Wednesday's League Cup tie at Tottenham.

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Perhaps nobody is feeling De Bruyne's absence more than Erling Haaland, who has netted just once in his past four league games. The Belgium international makes City tick and, while they've been able to move to the top of the table without him, Guardiola admitted his side will "struggle" if his injured players do not return quickly, with Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish and Oscar Bobb also sidelined.

WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

“I would like to tell you, especially I would like to know it, but I don’t know right now," Guardiola said when asked when De Bruyne will be back. "He feels that he can train, but not to go to that level that we need in competition. When you kick the ball or something, he still has pain and he doesn’t feel [right]. Kevin has to feel good to express his huge talent that he has. He’s feeling better, but not the best.”

On City's injury list, Guardiola added: "For sure, if these guys don’t come back as quick as possible, we’ll struggle, because we cannot sustain with just 14, 15 players for the season. We need the players to come back.”

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CITY?

City have the chance to heap more pressure on Ange Postecoglou when they take on Tottenham in the League Cup on Wednesday evening. It's the first of four successive away games for Guardiola and his players, with a trip to Bournemouth to come on Saturday.

Manchester United icon Antonio Valencia was key in helping Chelsea sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton in a British-record £115m deal.

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Valencia aware of Caicedo's qualities Urged Brighton to scout midfielder in EcuadorWas finally signed by Seagulls in 2021Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to the journey that led Caicedo to Chelsea began years ago with Brighton’s scouting work in Ecuador. At the heart of this discovery were Paul Winstanley and Sam Jewell, who were working at Brighton at the time as key figures in talent identification. It was Valencia who first reached out to Winstanley to recommend a promising 15-year-old midfielder named Caicedo. Winstanley, having a history with Valencia from their shared time at Wigan, took the suggestion seriously and followed up on it, accompanied by Jewell, to see the young player in action.

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Their visits to Ecuador were not limited to a one-time observation; rather, they consistently evaluated Caicedo, tracking his development and assessing his fit within the Premier League. It was this persistence and Brighton’s keen eye for emerging South American talent that led to Caicedo’s signing in February 2021.

DID YOU KNOW?

However, Chelsea’s acquisition of both Winstanley and Jewell from Brighton marked a shift in the Premier League talent pool. The two recruitment experts joined Chelsea, bringing along their deep understanding of Caicedo’s potential. When a transfer bidding war erupted between Chelsea and Liverpool, the Blues had the last laugh as they agreed to shell out £115 million to bring the Ecuadorian to Stamford Bridge.

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GOALWHAT NEXT FOR CAICEDO?

After enduring a challenging first season, Caicedo is proving his worth and making significant contributions in Chelsea’s midfield. His recent highlight came in a high-stakes match against Manchester United at Old Trafford, where he scored a stunning equalizer, firing a precise volley past United goalkeeper Andre Onana from outside the penalty area, that secured a crucial point for Chelsea. He is preparing for another challenging fixture as Chelsea face Arsenal in a London derby this Sunday.

With international football now out of the way and pre-season already here, we are rapidly approaching the return of the Premier League, and as such, teams need to get a move on in the transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur are no different in this regard.

While they have already spent £30m on the exciting Archie Gray, they could use some more attacking reinforcements to ensure Ange Postecoglou has what he needs to make a serious bid for a Champions League place next year.

Fortunately, recent reports have linked the Lilywhites with one of the most consistent strikers on the continent, a striker who has won comparisons to England striker Ollie Watkins.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from journalist Ben Jacobs via GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham are looking to bring in some attacking talent this summer, and one of the names on their list is LOSC Lille forward Jonathan David.

The report does not mention a potential price.

However, a separate story from Football Insider late last week claimed that the Canadian international would be available for around £25m due to his contract expiring next summer.

At such an affordable price, Spurs cannot afford to miss out on signing David, as he has shown in recent seasons that he's an accomplished top-flight centre-forward, and the comparisons to Watkins are just further proof of that.

Why David would be a great signing and his comparisons to Watkins

So, before we look at the comparison between David and Watkins, let's look at the primary reason he'd be such a great signing for Spurs: his output.

Last season, the "mind-blowing" number nine, as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, scored 26 goals and provided nine assists in just 47 appearances for Les Dogues. This means he averaged a goal involvement every 1.34 games for a team not fighting for the top honours in France.

This red-hot form wasn't an aberration either. Over the last four seasons, he has scored 84 goals and provided 18 assists in 183 club appearances, and in his 54 senior caps for Canada, he has scored 28 goals and provided 16 assists.

Appearances

48

48

40

47

Goals

13

19

26

26

Assists

5

0

4

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.37

0.39

0.75

0.74

Such an incredible rate of return over an extended period should put any concerns to rest over the 24-year-old being a one-season wonder while also lending credence to journalist Tony Marinaro's description of him as "one of the best strikers in the world."

Okay, so his goalscoring form is undeniable, but where does this comparison to Aston Villa's star striker come from?

Well, it stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in last season's Europa Conference League and created a list of the most comparable players. In this case, they considered the Englishman to be the fifth most similar striker to the Lille ace.

The easiest way to see this is by how closely the pair ranked for several key metrics in that competition, such as progressive carries, carries into the opposition's penalty area, goals and assists, expected assists, clearances and key passes.

Progressive Carries

0.85

0.83

Expected Assists

0.05

0.06

Goals + Assists

0.51

0.60

Key Passes

1.02

1.07

Clearances

0.34

0.36

Carries into the Penalty Area

0.51

0.60

Ultimately, with such an impressive record of scoring goals in a top-five league and for his national team, alongside a comparison to one of England's best strikers at the moment, signing David for just £25m seems like a no-brainer, and therefore, Daniel Levy and Co should be doing all they can to get this deal over the line.

Kulusevski upgrade: Spurs chasing £25m signing who's like Son

The talented international could be an incredible addition to Postecoglou’s team.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 16, 2024

He says the bubble life hasn’t taken a toll on India’s players

Varun Shetty03-Feb-20213:42

Rahane explains his responsibilities as India vice-captain

India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane is pleased at Virat Kohli’s return to the team and is gearing for his normal and “easy” role as deputy, one he says he enjoys best by being in the back seat.Rahane took over as stand-in captain, when Kohli left on paternity leave after the first Test of the Australia series, in Adelaide, and led India to a historic series victory that involved two Test wins and a draw. Rahane had only led India on two occasions before the Australia tour, but remains unbeaten as a Test captain.”See, my job is to take a back seat and help Virat,” Rahane said during a virtual media conference on Wednesday. “There are too many things on a captain’s mind, so as a vice-captain you have to visualise a situation, think about what can happen in the game, and then if captain asks you for suggestions then you should be ready. So my job is really easy. I take a back seat. Whenever required I go and tell him…or whenever he asks me about certain things, I’ll just go and tell him. That helps us a lot. For me, personally, I generally take a back seat when I’m vice-captain.”Related

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Even so, Rahane’s likely to have had a slight responsibility as the leader of the team during the Australia series win: that of grounding the team and helping them move on to focussing on the upcoming home series against England.”Australia was really special for us. We did enjoy our victory, especially that night in Brisbane and also when we came back home. But we are in the present now,” Rahane said. “What we learnt from Australia was, after losing a match in Adelaide, how we came back. So it’s all about staying in the moment. We respect the England team as well. We’re not going to take them lightly. For us, what’s important is playing a good brand of cricket, what we’ve been playing since the last two-three years. And play as a team and play as a unit. We’re not taking anything for granted. It’s all about taking one match at a time.”Ajinkya Rahane: “Whenever required I go and tell him (Virat Kohli)…or whenever he asks me about certain things, I’ll just go and tell him”•BCCIThe cancellation of the series between Australia and South Africa this month has meant that New Zealand have become the first team to qualify for the World Test Championship final, with India being strong favourites to face them in the final at Lord’s later this year. Rahane said New Zealand were deserving of the spot but said that the Indian team is only looking as far as this week’s game in Chennai, reiterating that complacency was not an issue.”We know every series, every game is really important, especially in the Test championship. What happened in Australia was really special but that is the past. We’re thinking of this series, this game particularly, and taking it one game at a time,” he said. “I don’t think we have to think too much about complacency. We know what’s our strength. We’re still respecting the England team, they did really well in Sri Lanka. So basically we have to play good cricket, back our strengths and play as a team here.”Rahane was tight-lipped about team combinations and pitch conditions, saying we’d have to “wait and see” about both, while hinting that Hardik Pandya was working hard as “a batsman and a bowler” in the nets. The return of Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer to the English team – both of whom were former team-mates of his at Rajasthan Royals – would not, he said, give England too much of an advantage.”We play IPL with them but Tests and IPL are completely different,” Rahane said. “We know how their bowlers come here and bowl, but like I said, lengths are completely different in the formats. It’s not like we tell them everything [about strategy]. That’s very important. IPL and Tests are completely different.Several of India’s players have been in a bubble since late August, just before the IPL began, and will likely have little time outside of bubbles any time soon, with the IPL shaping to be held in its regular March-April window. But, at the moment, Rahane said, there has been no mental faitgue.”We are not mentally tired at all,” he said. “We are really tough mentally. We are a unit, a family. We are enjoying each other’s company here. We are spending time in the team room. Our families are here which is really important. So we are not at all tired”

West Ham United are thought to be in advanced talks to complete their fourth signing of the window, with a £20m "monster" saying "yes" to the Irons.

Defenders wanted at West Ham

So far this summer, technical director Tim Steidten has made three new signings, with the most expensive and most recent being Wolves centre-back Max Kilman. Julen Lopetegui worked with Kilman at Molineux and the 27-year-old is excited at the prospect of playing under the Spaniard once again after penning a seven-year contract at the London Stadium.

“I really enjoyed working with Julen during his time at Wolves – he’s a top-class coach and someone I learned a lot from, and I am confident I will continue to improve as a player under his management here.

“Having spoken at length to both Julen and Tim [Steidten], I was hugely encouraged about the ambition of the Club and their plans for the future. They want to make a big noise here at West Ham and as a new player coming in, that’s an incredible thing to hear.”

West Ham now in talks to sign 24 y/o defender instead of Jean-Clair Todibo

Tim Steidten sees him as a genuine option.

ByCharlie Smith Jul 31, 2024

Alongside Kilman, though, more defensive additions are wanted ahead of the upcoming campaign, however, deals for Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters and AC Milan centre-back Fikayo Tomori are both thought to be off.

Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo is another move that looks set to fall through despite a deal being agreed, with the player wanting to join Juventus instead. Alongside the trio, Bayern Munich right-back Noussair Mazraoui also won’t be heading to the London Stadium, with a move off and West Ham focusing instead on Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

It looks as if a deal for the United right-back is showing promise, going on the latest update.

West Ham in advanced Wan-Bissaka talks

According to Football Insider, West Ham are in advanced talks with Man Utd over a deal to sign Wan-Bissaka that could be worth up to £20m.

The 26-year-old has said “yes” in principle to joining West Ham and the Irons are close to reaching an agreement. The Red Devils signed Wan-Bissaka for £50m back in 2019 from Crystal Palace, but selling him to West Ham will allow them to accelerate their interest in former Hammers target Mazraoui.

Should a deal go through, Wan-Bissaka could join Borussia Dortmund forward Niclas Fullkrug at the club, with a deal for the German thought to be advancing.

Wan-Bissaka has been regarded as "a real monster in defence" by the likes of football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and by the looks of things, Lopetegui could soon be looking to get the best out of him at the London Stadium.

Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera and Lakshan Sandakan not part of 17-man squad

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Mar-2021Pathum Nissanka has earned a maiden call-up for the two Tests against West Indies for which fit-again Dimuth Karunaratne will lead Sri Lanka’s 17-man squad. Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera and Lakshan Sandakan were missing from the squad which included allrounder Dhananjaya de Silva, who had missed the two Tests against England in January with a thigh injury.Nissanka, the 22-year-old top-order batsman, has already impressed in the ongoing T20Is in the West Indies with scores of 39 off 34 and 37 off 23. He has also been a consistent performer in first-class cricket, maintaining an average of 67.54 across the 59 long-format innings he has played so far. In those innings, he has hit 13 hundreds and 13 fifties. Middle-order batsman Roshen Silva has also impressed in domestic cricket, but has not played a Test in over two years.Karunaratne missed the England Tests with a finger fracture he suffered on the tour of South Africa during his century at the Wanderers, but will now return to lead both the ODI and Test sides.On the fast-bowling front, Sri Lanka are missing Lahiru Kumara, who tested positive for Covid-19 in the last two weeks, but have the likes of Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando available. Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya will likely be Sri Lanka’s primary spinner following his good performances against England at home. Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga is also available, in addition to the offspin of de Silva. Ramesh Mendis – if he plays – offers another offspin option.Sri Lanka lost their last four Tests – two away to South Africa, and two at home to England – but were seriously hampered by injuries through those series. Several important players are missing from this Test squad as well, but the return of captain Karunaratne will be especially heartening. De Silva’s return is also significant, particularly as he adds balance to the Test XI with his offspin.Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Roshen Silva, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lasith Embuldeniya

Arsenal legend Bacary Sagna has urged the club to sign Paul Pogba and Viktor Gyokeres ahead of the January transfer window.

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Pogba available on a free transferGyokeres in fine form for Sporting CPSagna wants pair at ArsenalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Pogba will be available to sign for a new club in February, once his doping ban expires. The suspension was reduced from four years to 18 months but he has left Juventus, and is now on the hunt for a new club, with Sagna urging Arsenal to consider the prospect of bringing him back to England, where he previously played for Manchester United.

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Sagna has also called on the Gunners to consider beefing up their frontline with the acquisition of Gyokeres, the Sporting striker who has been in electric form this season. The Sweden international has scored 23 goals in 18 games in all competitions this season, and the Gunners have been linked with a swoop alongside Liverpool and Manchester United, with suitors being made aware that he has a €100m (£83m/$104m) release clause.

WHAT SAGNA SAID

Speaking to Mega Dice, Sagna said: "I've always said that Paul Pogba would be a good addition for Arsenal. I believe he could be an asset to the club. With his creativity, having him on a short-term contract would benefit everyone. It would help Paul get back into football and get him back to full fitness and quality.

"I would love Arsenal to sign Viktor Gyokeres, the Swedish striker who plays for Sporting Lisbon. He's amazing, honestly. I didn't know much about his personality, but after watching him play. Wow! I think he's amazing."

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend against Nottingham Forest. They currently sit fourth in the table, and are level on points with their fifth-placed opponents.

Turkish legend Arda Turan is confident that Real Madrid wonderkid Arda Guler will surpass his legacy.

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Turan backs Guler to be a great playerBelieves he will surpass himGuler hoping for more prominence at MadridFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid player Arda Turan might be among the greatest Turkish players of all time, but the Eyupspor manager has little doubt Real Madrid sensation Arda Guler will surpass his legacy and become an even greater player than he was.

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Guler has often been hailed as one of the greatest talents to have been born in Turkey. At the age of 18, the talented teenager arrived at Real Madrid and already has a league title and a Champions League trophy to his name. He is among the most important players in the Turkish national team set-up, which was only further emboldened by his terrific displays at EURO 2024. Guler already has 18 caps to his name, and he hasn't even turned 20.

All things said, Turan, who is Turkey's fifth-most capped player ever with 100 caps, believes that Guler will achieve a lot of success in his career and will be the more decorated 'Arda' among the two.

WHAT ARDA TURAN SAID

"Guler is a very special talent," Turan claimed in an interview with AS. "He has unique qualities. I am sure he will surpass me. He has many years ahead of him. Once he combines his talent with the reality of the level at which he plays and completes his adaptation process, I believe he will achieve even greater success."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR ARDA GULER?

After starting for Turkey in their recent Nations League matches, Guler will be hoping to earn more minutes under Carlo Ancelotti when Real Madrid travel to Leganes on Sunday, November 24. The 19-year-old has made only three starts for Los Blancos in the ongoing campaign.