Wolves boss Vitor Pereira is among those convinced Guler will become a world superstar – and he knows better than most.

The Portuguese gave Guler, then just 16, his debut with Fenerbahce in 2021, and recalls he was immediately aware of the youngster’s rare ability.

“He reminded me of James Rodriguez when I coached him at the age of 19, recently arrived at Porto,” Pereira told Spanish newspaper Marca last week. “They are two players with exceptional talent.

“He [Guler] was a boy among men, but every time he received the ball he found the final pass. And if he made a mistake, he asked for the ball back to try again.”

Pereira doesn’t believe the comparison with Messi has much merit, instead agreeing with the player himself – and apparently Alonso – that he should be given the central midfield role previously occupied by Modric.

“I always saw him more as an eight or a 10 because of his ability to unbalance opposition between the lines,” he added.

“He’s intelligent, he looks for solutions before he receives the ball, he can play long or short, he can make the final pass or shoot from long range.

“He understands the game and always wants to know more. I can definitely see him playing instead of Modric.”

And the difficulties encountered by Guler last season have done nothing to dampen Pereira’s expectations of his former player’s potential.

“Coming to Real Madrid, with so many top-quality players, isn’t easy,” he concluded. “But he’ll find his place. I have no doubt his future has big things in store. He’s got the quality and mentality to become a main protagonist.”

Less than a month into Alonso’s reign, that process is already unfolding.

And if he shines in the last-16 tie against Juventus, it would be another sign Guler is ready to take the football world by storm.