Serhat Pekmezci, the Turkish scout widely credited with discovering and bringing Arda Güler to Fenerbahçe’s youth academy, has ignited one of the most explosive controversies in recent football history. In a raw, emotional interview with Turkish media outlet Fanatik on February 12, 2026, Pekmezci accused Real Madrid of “bullying” the 20-year-old Turkish prodigy, claiming the club’s environment has left Güler isolated, unhappy, and mentally drained despite his undeniable talent.

Pekmezci, who first spotted Güler playing for Fenerbahçe’s U-15 side in 2019 and pushed hard for his promotion to the senior team at just 17, spoke with visible frustration. “I brought Arda to Fenerbahçe because I saw genius in him — the same genius everyone sees now,” he said. “But at Real Madrid, they are bullying him. They treat him like he doesn’t belong. He’s sad, he’s alone, and it’s breaking my heart because I know what he’s capable of.”

The remarks come at a delicate moment for Güler. After a breakthrough loan spell at Fenerbahçe in 2024–25 (where he scored 12 goals and provided 9 assists in 28 appearances), he returned to Real Madrid in the summer of 2025 expecting regular minutes under Carlo Ancelotti. Instead, the Spanish giants have kept him on the fringes: limited substitute appearances, few starts in La Liga, and only sporadic minutes in cup competitions. Despite flashes of brilliance — including a stunning long-range strike against Girona in October 2025 — Güler has struggled to break into a star-studded midfield featuring Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Luka Modrić, and new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Pekmezci went further, alleging internal mistreatment. “There are players and staff who make him feel small,” he claimed. “They mock his Turkish accent when he speaks Spanish, they exclude him from group chats, they don’t pass to him in training even when he’s in perfect position. It’s not competition — it’s bullying.” He added that Güler has confided in close friends about feeling “invisible” and “unwanted,” despite his work ethic and willingness to learn from veterans like Modrić.

The claims have divided the football world. In Turkey, the reaction was furious. Social media exploded with the hashtag #AdaletİçinArda (“Justice for Arda”), and thousands of fans flooded Real Madrid’s official accounts demanding transparency. Prominent Turkish figures, including former national team captain Emre Belözoğlu and Galatasaray legend Hakan Şükür, publicly supported Pekmezci’s version, calling on UEFA and FIFA to investigate potential discrimination. Fenerbahçe president Ali Koç even offered to “bring Arda home” on loan again, stating: “We will always protect our boy.”

At Real Madrid, the club issued a measured denial. A spokesperson said: “We treat all players with respect and professionalism. Arda is an important part of our squad and receives full support from the coaching staff and teammates.” Ancelotti, in his pre-match press conference before the Copa del Rey tie against Atlético Madrid, defended his handling: “Arda is young, he needs time. He trains very well and we believe in him. There is no bullying here — only competition.”

Behind closed doors, however, sources close to the squad paint a more nuanced picture. Several teammates reportedly admire Güler’s technique and vision but admit the dressing room dynamic is “intense.” The arrival of Alexander-Arnold in 2025 further crowded the creative midfield roles, leaving less room for a player still adapting to European physicality and tactical demands. Some Spanish media outlets suggested Pekmezci’s comments were motivated by loyalty to Fenerbahçe and a desire to pressure Madrid into more playing time for Güler — or even engineer a return to Turkey.

Güler himself has remained largely silent. In his only public comment since the interview, he posted an Instagram story of himself training with the caption “Focused. Grateful.” in both Turkish and Spanish. Close associates say he is aware of the uproar but has asked friends not to escalate it, preferring to let his performances speak.

The timing is significant. Güler’s struggles contrast sharply with Bellingham’s instant impact and Vinícius Júnior’s continued brilliance, fueling narratives that Madrid favors certain profiles over others. Turkish football pundits have drawn parallels with past cases — Mesut Özil’s eventual exit from Real Madrid amid perceived marginalization — and warn that continued limited minutes could derail Güler’s development ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Pekmezci, for his part, stands by every word. “I’m not saying this to hurt Real Madrid,” he clarified in a follow-up statement. “I’m saying it because I love Arda like a son. He deserves better than to be made to feel like an outsider in the club he dreamed of joining.” He revealed he still speaks to Güler regularly and has urged him to “stay strong and keep believing in yourself.”

Whether Pekmezci’s allegations lead to concrete changes — more minutes for Güler, internal investigations, or even a winter loan — remains uncertain. What is clear is that the interview has lifted the lid on tensions many suspected but few voiced publicly. Arda Güler, once hailed as “the Turkish Messi,” now stands at a crossroads: prove his doubters wrong on the pitch, or become another tale of unfulfilled promise at the Bernabéu.

For Turkish football fans, the pain is personal. For Real Madrid, it’s a PR headache they could have done without. And for Güler himself, it’s a stark reminder that genius alone doesn’t guarantee happiness — sometimes it needs protection too.