Step up or face the reality – Real Madrid midfield duo walking fine line as pressure mounts | OneFootball

The 2025/26 season will be a make-or-break campaign for several players at Real Madrid, but none more so than Arda Guler and Eduardo Camavinga.

Both young stars are under growing pressure to prove they belong in a club that demands consistency, maturity, and world-class performance every week.

Real Madrid are no stranger to competition, and for young players, the path to regular minutes is anything but easy. Guler, now 20, arrived in Madrid with the reputation of being one of football’s brightest talents.

Though he made a few promising appearances in his debut season, the Turkish international failed to build on that momentum.

Injuries and inconsistent performances meant that he faded into the background for most of the campaign under Carlo Ancelotti.

Glimpse of promise

Arda Guler needs to prove his worth. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Yet, his end-of-season form gave a glimmer of hope. Guler showed flashes of brilliance, reminding the club and fans why he was signed in the first place. But he still lacks a clear position.

Whether as an attacking midfielder or winger, he needs to define his role. New manager Xabi Alonso, who has always appreciated Guler’s technical skill, could be crucial in helping him mature and adapt.

Still, competition will be fierce. Not only will he be battling with experienced names, but also with young talents like Endrick and Franco Mastantuono, who is already drawing serious attention before even playing a match for the first team.

Camavinga needs to reclaim his status

For Camavinga, the situation is different but equally pressing. At 22, he enters his fifth season at the Bernabeu, an age and timeline by which many expected him to be an automatic starter.

Camavinga will have to work on his consistency. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Instead, his progress seems to have stalled. Despite showing flashes of excellence, he has struggled to maintain consistency.

Frequent injuries and mental lapses have made his position uncertain. One moment, he can dominate a midfield, and the next, make costly mistakes that affect the team’s balance.

As a result, his market value has dropped drastically. Transfermarkt now lists him at €60M, a sharp decline from his previous €100M valuation.

This is a warning sign. Camavinga must find the regularity and discipline that made him such a promising star when he first arrived.

With the club continuing to reinforce the midfield, he needs to prove that he still belongs in Madrid’s long-term plans.