Turkey’s reported group-stage elimination means Guler is expected to be the only Madrid player certain to join the opening phase of preparations. The rest of the club’s international contingent could remain involved until the knockout rounds, depending on their teams’ progress.
That creates a valuable window for Guler. Early pre-season does not guarantee a starting role, but it can help a player establish rhythm, absorb tactical instructions and make an impression before the competition for places intensifies.
For Mourinho, the timing is significant. The report says he is due at Valdebebas on 13 July, just six days before the World Cup final. Players who stay deep into the tournament are likely to receive additional recovery time, leaving the manager with a smaller working group at the start.
Mourinho has not hidden his frustration with some early matches. He described the World Cup as “the top of the top” socially, but said he had switched off certain games after only 10 minutes.
He also praised Brazil against Morocco as “a great game”, while admitting that other fixtures had offered him “some nice dinners and some nice sleeps”. His criticism was aimed at the quality and competitiveness of some group-stage contests, not the importance of the tournament itself.
That perspective makes Madrid’s pre-season especially relevant. Mourinho may be watching the knockout rounds closely, but his priority will soon be the players available at Valdebebas.
Guler’s early arrival could make him one of the first players to define Mourinho’s new Madrid project. The next test will be whether he can turn that head start into a meaningful role once the World Cup contingent returns.