EURO 2024: Bellingham says Turkey’s Guler ‘better than him’
England midfielder Jude Bellingham says his Real Madrid teammate and Turkey midfielder Arda Guler is “better than him.”
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BELLINGHAM SAYS GULER ‘BETTER THAN HIM’ EVEN BEFORE EURO 2024
The 20-year-old Bellingham said the 19-year-old Guler was “better than him” even before EURO 2024 began more than a week ago.
It was Massimo Franchi, the creator of the Golden Boy Award, who disclosed that Bellingham told him about Guler’s exploits on the field.
Bellingham privately spoke to Franchi and said that Guler was “better than him.”
The English standout added that the Turkish midfielder could become the future football icon.
Franchi recalled that Bellingham disclosed to him in December last year during a Real Madrid event.
GULER MAKING WAVES FOR TURKEY SO FAR IN EURO 2024
Guler is off to a promising start in seeking to become a household name for football fans based on his Euro 2024 exploits so far.
The Ankara native scored his first goal in the tournament in Turkey’s 3-1 victory over Georgia.
Furthermore, this feat enabled Guler to become the youngest Euro debutant to score in the competition.
The 19-year-old would later take the Man of the Match award in Turkey’s 0-3 loss to Portugal despite playing for only 20 minutes, The Mirror reported.
Guler signed with Real Madrid on July 6, 2023, in a six-year deal that will let him stay with the La Liga club until June 2029.
BELLINGHAM MODEST DESPITE GOLDEN BOY, KOPA TROPHY AWARDS
Furthermore, Bellingham’s acknowledgment of Guler’s talents is considered modest despite the recognition he has received at an early age.
The Stourbridge native won the Golden Boy – given for nominees playing for European footballers aged under 21 over the last calendar year.
He also took the Kopa Trophy, which recognizes the world’s best over the past season.
Bellingham played as a member of England’s senior team in November 2020 at the UEFA EURO 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Like Guler, Bellingham also signed a six-year deal with Real Madrid on June 14, 2023.
He became the sixth Englishman to join the La Liga side in the professional era.
