José Mourinho still has several important decisions to make before Real Madrid begin their La Liga campaign. In midfield, however, an early trend is starting to emerge just days before the trip to face Espanyol.
With the opening league match approaching, Arda Güler appears to have a slight advantage over Jude Bellingham in the race for a starting place. The Turkish international has made the most of pre-season, impressing Mourinho in a more advanced midfield role just behind Kylian Mbappé.
At the beginning of the summer preparations, Mourinho initially experimented with Güler in a deeper position, asking him to contribute more to the build-up and help organize Madrid’s possession from midfield. However, the Portuguese coach later decided to push him further forward, giving him greater freedom in the final third.
That adjustment quickly produced encouraging results.
Güler looked increasingly comfortable between the lines during Real Madrid’s pre-season matches, using his technical quality, vision and creativity to connect midfield with attack. His ability to receive the ball in tight spaces and find Mbappé in dangerous areas has seemingly caught Mourinho’s attention.
As a result, the 21-year-old is now considered one of the strongest candidates to start against Espanyol on August 22.
Bellingham still building rhythm
Jude Bellingham’s situation is slightly different.
The England midfielder returned to the squad later following his involvement at the World Cup, meaning he has had fewer training sessions and fewer opportunities to establish himself under Mourinho during the summer preparation.
Bellingham remains one of Real Madrid’s most important players, but his delayed return has naturally affected his physical preparation. Mourinho has repeatedly emphasized the differences in fitness levels within his squad, with some players having completed considerably more training sessions than others.
That could influence his decision for the opening league fixture.
🚨Jude Bellingham on Arda Güler and the No.10 debate:
— Dafwang Vilret (@VilretM) August 17, 2026
“Arda is an incredible footballer. I know people are asking who should play at No.10, but for me, it’s not about competing against each other. He has qualities I don’t have, and I have qualities he doesn’t have.
If the… pic.twitter.com/h5BNfY3wBe
Against Espanyol, Mourinho may therefore prefer Güler in the attacking midfield position behind Mbappé, allowing Bellingham additional time to recover his best physical condition.
A major battle for the season
However, a possible Güler start against Espanyol should not be interpreted as a definitive hierarchy.
Mourinho considers both players capable of performing the crucial role between midfield and attack. Their profiles are different, but each offers qualities that could become essential depending on the opponent and the tactical demands of a particular match.
Güler provides creativity, close control and a dangerous left foot, while Bellingham brings physical power, movement into the penalty area and an ability to influence games in several different midfield roles.
For Mourinho, having both options could become one of Real Madrid’s biggest strengths this season.
The competition between the two midfielders is therefore expected to continue throughout the campaign, with Mourinho potentially rotating them depending on form, fitness and tactical requirements.
For now, though, the first indication appears clear: Arda Güler has taken advantage of pre-season and currently seems slightly ahead of Bellingham in the race to start behind Mbappé.
The first real answer will arrive this Saturday when Mourinho names his starting eleven for Real Madrid’s La Liga opener against Espanyol.
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