Mesut Ozil has drawn a striking comparison between his iconic link-up with Cristiano Ronaldo and the budding partnership between Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe. The young Turk impressed with a goal and an assist in the Madrid derby, sparking hope for a bright future despite Real Madrid's 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Ozil compares Arda Guler to his time with Cristiano Ronaldo

During the Madrid derby, Ozil highlighted the connection between Guler and Mbappe. On his Instagram story, he posted a split image: the top half showing himself celebrating with former teammate Ronaldo, and the bottom half featuring Guler and Mbappe in a similar celebration.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesGuler’s assist reminiscent of Ozil-Ronaldo partnership

The former Arsenal midfielder's post emphasised the similarity between the two partnerships. Earlier in the match, the Turkish international delivered a perfectly timed assist to Mbappe, allowing the French striker to equalise at 1-1. This moment mirrored the type of passes Ozil regularly provided to Ronaldo at Madrid from 2010 to 2013, including a famous match-winning assist in the 2-1 Clasico victory over Barcelona in April 2012.

Early season signs promising for Arda Guler

The 20-year-old continued to impress despite Los Blancos’ heavy 5-2 defeat. Guler scored a spectacular goal to give his side a temporary 2-1 lead before being substituted after just under an hour. So far this season, he has featured in nearly all of Madrid’s matches, scoring three goals and providing three assists. His vision and link-up play with Mbappe are already drawing attention as a potential cornerstone of Madrid’s attacking strategy.

AFPReal Madrid target Champions League and La Liga consistency

Guler and Madrid now turn their focus to Kairat Almaty in the Champions League on Tuesday. Their La Liga campaign resumes on Saturday with a home fixture against Villarreal. Ozil’s tribute hints at high expectations for Guler, with the young Turk expected to play a key role in Madrid’s push for domestic and European success this season.