Jude Bellingham's private Arda Guler admission speaks volumes as Liverpool 'makes contact'

Jude Bellingham is reported to have privately confided that rumored Liverpool target Arda Guler is "better than him" with the pair having shared a dressing room at Real Madrid.

The highly-rated Turkish attacking midfielder earned plaudits after his wonderstrike for his country in their Euro 2024 opener versus Georgia as they ran out 3-1 winners. Scoring his nation's second goal in the clash, his left-footed piledriver from distance was quickly installed as a potential Goal of the Tournament contender.

The youngster's playing time at club level has been more sporadic in the past season and the 19-year-old sensation managed just 379 minutes in La Liga last term. As a result of injuries and the competition for places at Santiago Bernabeu, his involvement was limited across the campaign, with most of his appearances coming in the run-in.

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After making the move to Spain from Fenerbahce in his homeland during the previous summer, the prospect had to wait until January to make his debut for Los Blancos. However, a first goal for the club versus Celta Vigo in March heralded a rich vein of form for Guler, who ended the season on six goals in ten league appearances.

After failing to match the breakthrough of Bellingham in the Spanish capital in his first season with Madrid, some speculation has linked him with a move away after just a year. As per the print version Marca, via the Paisley Gates, Liverpool are among the clubs who have made contact with the Champions League holders over the youngster's availability.

Either way, Bellingham is among those who have been left impressed by the talents of the nine-time Turkish international after a year of working with him. That is according to Golden Boy award creator Massimo Franchi, who divulged: "Jude told me in December last year that Real Madrid had a fantastic young player who is perhaps even a little bit better than him."

"Turkey's Arda Guler, who scored an amazing goal against Georgia," he continued, before revealing elements of a conversation he is alleged to have had with the England superstar. "According to Bellingham, he was doing incredible things in training and Guler was only 19 at the time."

Whether the prodigy will be on the market this summer remains to be seen but it appears that Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti is eager to retain his services after a mixed first campaign with the club. Explaining the reasons for his plauer's game time being limited in his maiden term, the Italian master called for patience from Guler.

He said: "I choose the XI and for some it is harder to get in because they have lost time through injury: he is very young and he had to be patient. What he has to do is fight, compete, that’s all."

In a vote of confidence for the starlet, the former AC Milan boss added: "He’s going to be a very important player for us in the future,” Ancelotti said. “There’s no doubt: he’s staying next year. We have a lot of affection for him. He’s the youngest. The ball is in love with him."