Arda Güler responds to Real Madrid bullying claims from former mentor

The Turkish midfielder has called allegations “sad” and insists he’s been warmly welcomed by everyone at the club following his arrival from Fenerbahçe in 2023

Arda Güler has firmly rejected allegations that he’s been subjected to bullying by teammates at Real Madrid, responding to explosive claims made by Serhat Pekmezci, Fenerbahçe‘s former head of scouting who worked closely with the Turkish midfielder during his early professional development.

Pekmezci recently claimed that Güler faced “massive mobbing” from players within Madrid’s dressing room, suggesting a group with “very high egos” had refused to accept the young talent.

Those controversial statements prompted a direct response from Güler, who categorically denied the allegations while expressing disappointment that such claims had been made public.

“I have followed with sadness the recent public statements made by former scouting chief, Mr. Serhat Pekmezci, who played a significant role at the beginning of my career,” Güler stated.

“From my very first day, I have been warmly welcomed by everyone within this club, and I have always regarded this place as a family. I am extremely proud to be a Real Madrid player and wish to serve this badge for many years to come.”

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Former mentor claims player faced dressing room hostility

Pekmezci’s original comments suggested Güler encountered resistance from established players unwilling to embrace his arrival.

The former Fenerbahçe scout claimed he’d anticipated these problems before they materialized, though he acknowledged Güler hadn’t personally complained about the situation.

“Even though Real Madrid is a mega club, Arda Guler is under massive mobbing,” Pekmezci told Sports Digitale. “Not that he complained to me, but I knew this would happen. I told him to be patient. The mobbing came from the players.”

The scout went further by identifying ego as the root cause of the alleged hostility, suggesting certain teammates felt threatened or resentful of Güler’s presence within the squad.

“Unfortunately, there is a group there that hasn’t been able to accept Arda. These are players with very high egos,” Pekmezci added.

Those allegations, if accurate, would paint a troubling picture of Real Madrid‘s dressing room culture. Elite clubs depend on squad harmony to maintain competitive standards across gruelling seasons, and internal divisions typically manifest in poor results or public disputes.

However, Güler’s response directly contradicts every element of Pekmezci’s narrative. The midfielder didn’t offer qualified denials or diplomatic deflections. Instead, he issued an unambiguous rejection of the claims while praising both the club and his teammates.

“We have a very strong team, and I am happy and honoured to share the same team with all of my teammates,” Güler said, leaving no room for interpretation about his relationships within the squad.

“I kindly ask that no attention be paid to any comments or reports written or spoken on this matter.”