Arda Guler has become one of the sensations of the summer. The Turkish youngster has spent days deciding between several of Europe's top clubs as to where his next destination will be.

In the last few hours the battle has been confined to an all-Spanish fight between Real Madrid and Barcelona, with AC Milan relegated to the background. The decision is imminent, it was between first-team football or a clearer project. That is to say, Real Madrid's chances of success or Barcelona's immediate incorporation to the first team. The player and his father have listened to the two big Spanish football clubs and now it is time to make the final decision.

What has been clear to the Fenerbahce player from the beginning is that his time at the Istanbul club was over and that he wanted a change of scenery. He made this known to the Turkish club's directors so that they could adapt to what was going to be his departure in exchange for the 17.5 million euros that appears as a buyout clause in his contract.

In fact, in Turkey it is understood that Real Madrid would have already closed a deal with Fenerbahce for 20 million euros.

Since it became known that Real Madrid were studying the possible signing of the Turkish international, the Spanish giants have tried to make it look like it was a commitment to the future, like those made in the past with Vinicius, Rodrygo and Endrick, although it is true that Guler already knows what it is like to compete at the highest level with Fenerbahce, both in the league and in Europe.

Whether as a future project or even as a possible addition for the 23-24 season, the fact is that Real Madrid have made a move in the last few hours and what seemed to be a firm decision to bring Guler to Barcelona has been put on hold pending a final decision.

Long-standing monitoring

Real Madrid have been tracking the 18-year-old playmaker since he made his breakthrough in the Turkish top flight in the 21-22 campaign. His name has not been a reaction to Barcelona's interest.

It is true that everything has been rushed in the last few days, but his name had already appeared in different meetings at the club's headquarters. The concept that was held of him in Valdebebas placed him among those young talents to follow for the future, not as something immediate.