Carlo Ancelotti hails Arda Guler and insists he can play a key role in the 'future of Real Madrid' despite limited minutes this season

Despite struggling for regular game time, Madrid boss Ancelotti has talked up the Turkish international's quality and claimed that one day he will be a "fantastic" central player. The Italian added that the 20-year-old has a huge amount of potential.

He told reporters: "He has progressed very well. He has become more important. In the future he will have even more prominence. He is showing quality and he is having more continuity in the game. I think he’s going to be a fantastic central player, and not just a winger. For the future of Real Madrid he is going to be a very important player, because there are not many players of this profile in midfield."

Guler has played 37 times for Madrid this season, scoring four goals and bagging eight assists. But just 13 of those have been starts, leading to speculation over a move this summer. But it seems Los Blancos want to keep the youngster, despite the mounting interest.

Guler, whose contract at Santiago Bernabeu runs until 2029, will hope to feature for Madrid at home to Celta Vigo in La Liga on Sunday.