Former Borussia Dortmund head coach Nuri Sahin has revealed his unsuccessful attempt to bring Real Madrid’s rising star Arda Guler to Signal Iduna Park on loan during the 2024/25 season. Speaking on the YouTube channel KAFA Sports, Sahin confirmed he had identified the Turkish playmaker as a primary target to strengthen Dortmund’s creative options.
“I was desperate to bring Arda to Dortmund,” the 37-year-old tactician said, reflecting on his pursuit during his brief tenure at the Bundesliga club. Sahin recalled a conversation with Guler in which the young midfielder expressed his determination to succeed at Real Madrid despite early challenges.
“Back then, he told me, ‘Coach, I’m going to grab that shirt, no matter what happens,'” Sahin recounted, highlighting Guler’s resolve to prove himself at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The loan move never materialized as Guler chose to remain with Real Madrid, where he has since established himself as a regular starter and key player under managers Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa. Sahin was dismissed after six months in Dortmund, even as Guler has continued to develop into an important figure for the Spanish giants.
Guler joined Real Madrid from Fenerbahçe in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of €28 million. Even before his arrival in Madrid, Dortmund had shown interest in his abilities but were unable to compete with the offer from the Spanish capital.
