The aftermath of yesterday’s El Clásico has taken a shocking twist — not because of the scoreline, but because of Frenkie De Jong’s jaw-dropping confession that has set the football community ablaze.
In a post-match interview filled with rare honesty and visible admiration, the Barcelona captain admitted:
“Since I started playing for Barcelona, I have never faced a player as talented as him. He caused us a lot of problems; despite all our efforts, he never gave us the slightest chance to win.”
Fans and journalists alike were stunned — especially when Frenkie revealed that the player he was referring to wasn’t Kylian Mbappé, nor Vinícius Jr.. Instead, his words pointed toward a far more unexpected name on the Real Madrid roster.
According to sources close to the Barça dressing room, Frenkie’s praise was aimed at Arda Güler, the young Turkish prodigy who has been quietly building his reputation at Real Madrid. Reports suggest that Güler’s technical control, creativity, and calmness on the ball completely disrupted Barcelona’s defensive structure during key moments of the match.
De Jong’s statement spread like wildfire across social media, with thousands of fans debating and dissecting every word. Some praised his sportsmanship, while others accused him of giving “too much credit” to a rival player. On X (formerly Twitter), hashtags like #DeJongOnGuler, #RespectFromTheCaptain, and #ElClasicoShock began trending within hours.
Even within Barcelona’s camp, insiders say De Jong’s remarks raised eyebrows. “He said what everyone saw but didn’t dare to admit,” one Barça source revealed. “Güler’s performance was quiet but lethal. Frenkie respects intelligence and control — and that’s exactly what Arda showed.”
Meanwhile, Real Madrid fans are ecstatic. Spanish outlets have already dubbed the young midfielder “the silent assassin of El Clásico,” while Turkish media celebrated Frenkie’s words as “proof of Güler’s rising empire.”
But there’s another layer to the story. Rumors suggest that De Jong personally approached Güler after the match — a rare gesture — to congratulate him. Witnesses reportedly saw the two exchange a brief handshake and a few words that left Güler smiling modestly.
As the football world debates his comments, Frenkie De Jong’s honesty has once again reminded fans that beneath all the rivalry and noise, true greatness recognizes greatness — even when it wears the colors of your fiercest enemy.
And now, the question echoing across Europe is simple:
Has Arda Güler just earned the respect of one of the world’s finest midfielders — and, perhaps, announced the arrival of a new El Clásico legend?
