Deco speaks out on Barcelona's FAILED Arda Guler pursuit

Stuart Telford

• 11 Jul 2023 16:19 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona lost out to Real Madrid for Turkish prodigy Arda Guler on Friday, a decision that left new Barca sporting director Deco disappointed.

Clasico rivals Barca and Real were both willing to pay Fenerbahce €20 million for Guler - some way clear of his €17.5m asking price - but once Madrid entered the race they were never going to lose it.

"Many clubs wanted me but I decided to join Real Madrid," Guler said on signing his six-year contract at the Santiago Bernabeu. "This is the biggest club in the world."

READ: Arda Guler reveals REAL reason he rejected Barcelona for Real Madrid

Guler has been handed the 24 jersey in the Spanish capital previously worn by Sami Khedira and Claude Makelele, although he is a more attacking player than those defensive midfield greats.

Deco might have hoped Guler would rather inherit the same number Andres Iniesta once wore at Barca, but he was short with journalists when asked about his failed Guler pursuit.

Deco felt used

"I don't know," he quipped when pressed having lunch with Director of Football Mateu Alemany. Sport later reported that Deco felt Fener and Guler used Barca to extract more money from Real in negotiations.

READ: Vini Jr. TROLLS Barcelona over transfer hijack

Guler may only be 18, but he joins a squad that has missed a No.10 since Isco left on a free transfer to Sevilla last summer, and he has made it clear he has no intention of refining his craft elsewhere.

"I won't leave on loan, this is not an option," he said. "I want to stay and play for Real Madrid."

Guler hopes to emulate another attacking midfielder of Turkish descent in Mesut Ozil at the Bernabeu.

Ozil concluded his Real career in 2013 with 27 goals and 81 assists from 159 games for the club, but as a teenager, Guler has five more goals and one more assist that Ozil did at the same stage of his career.