Like a film
Real Madrid's young striker, Gonzalo Garcia, is having a Club World Cup that will change his life. Coming to the tournament in an almost unknown role, but after only 5 starting matches - in the context of Kylian Mbappe being affected by acute gastritis - Gonzalo has now become familiar to everyone.
Gonzalo opened the scoring for coach Xabi Alonso's team in the opening match against Al Hilal, contributing in 2 of 3 goals against Pachuca (including 1 assist), continuing to score in 3 consecutive matches against Red Bull Salzburg (group stage), Juventus (8/8) and Dortmund (quarter-finals).
I know him well because I often follow Castilla, Alonso shared. For me, what stuff stuff stuff is doing is not too surprising. He reminds me of Raul (Gonzalez) in many ways.
Gonzalo's story in this tournament is like a film. From a supporting character, he has now become the center, and every day people discover a new thing about this 21-year-old guy. Recently, it is known that Gonzalo's grandfather - cowboighter Manuel Torres-Cansino - is the cousin of the legendary American actress - Margarita Carmen Cansino, also known by his stage name Rita Hayworth.
A detail that most clearly shows the rapid development of this "homegrown" player is the increasingly loud cheers whenever his name is called out at the team introduction ceremony in the group stage matches.
Gonzalo's explosive form has led to even his possibility of leaving the team this summer - which was predicted when he arrived in Miami - now uncertain. It depends on the club and the coach, said Gonzalo. There has been no decision yet, Alonso added the next day.
An interesting journey without roses
Gonzalo Garcia's journey at Real Madrid up to this point has also been really interesting. Gonzalo joined La Fabrica - Real's youth training center - in 2014, when he was only 10 years old. He started from Alevin B (U11), moving from the small club Jarama Race in San Sebastian de los Reyes, north of Madrid. He stands out for his speed flying like a flyer! - and has a high sense of responsibility even though he is very young, recalled coach Daniel Ortiz, who led Gonzalo from 2012 to 2014.
In 2018, because of his father's job (working in the hotel industry), Gonzalo's family moved to Palma, and he spent a season playing for Mallorca. A year later, Gonzalo returned to Real Madrid and made his first-team debut at the end of 2023 against Cadiz in La Liga under coach Carlo Ancelotti.
But the road is not covered with roses. In the few seasons after his return, Gonzalo has not scored more than 10 goals/season. At first, he played on the wing, even playing at full-back at times, said Marc Cucalon, a former player known as the next Xabi Alonso of Real Madrid (retired at the age of 19, currently a scout at player management company Unlimited Sports Management). When returning from Mallorca, Gonzalo struggled. But the turning point was thanks to (Alvaro) Arbeloa - who raised his standards to a very high level".
Arbeloa - a former Real Madrid and Liverpool player, now head coach of the Castilla team - has seen potential in Gonzalo that no one else has recognized. He took advantage of the strengths and thoroughly grasped the shortcomings of this young player. As a result, in the 2022 - 2023 season, Gonzalo scored 35 goals for Juvenil A, helping the team win a historic domestic treble. This number is even more impressive if known that he often plays as a left winger.
The desire of a versatile monster
Gonzalo is special in that: He can play in any position in the attack. Alonso took advantage of this flexibility in the match against Pachuca: Starting as a center forward, after Raul Asencio was sent off, Gonzalo moved to the wing while Vinicius Junior was pulled into the middle.
But what makes sualo truly spiritual is his spirit and aspiration. He is very good, always focused. As a comprehensive excellent student, a great family. With brothers, sisters and everyone supporting wholeheartedly, Cucalon said, va Gonzalo always play as if they are playing in the Champions League final both on and off the PlayStation. Never be half".
A real monster! - a coach at the Royal Football Academy commented, He is hard-working, plays with crazy intensity, never laughed at, whether it is with the coach, fitness coach or teammates. Don't pass the ball to him? He showed you wrong. Not running enough? He also told me. But it all comes from a high sense of responsibility - towards the team and towards oneself.
There is a typical anecdota for Gonzalo's psychology. In the final of Copa de Campeones de Juvenil 2023 (the biggest title in Spanish youth football), Gonzalo made a foul on the person in a corner kick situation, leading to a goal conceded against Betis. In the middle of the break, he stood up and said he would correct his mistake - and then scored a double, bringing Real Madrid a 3-1 victory.
Promotion and sublimation
Since then, Gonzalo's progress has been unstoppable. After an adaptative season in Castilla with 5 goals, he exploded in the 2024 - 2025 season with a record of 25 goals in the Spanish Third Division (Primera RFEF) under coach Raul.
He has great potential, good physical condition, good finishing, good shooting, said a member of the manage department. What needs to be improved is just patience because Gonzalo is the type of person who always wants to burn the stage.
An example of that aspiration: He is the type of player who knows how to use his talent to build confidence for himself.Not afraid of anything, always believe in yourself until the end, said the source.
It was not until February that the name Gonzalo began to attract more attention from fans.He scored with his head in the 93rd minute of the King's Cup quarter-final against Leganes, taking Real to the semi-finals without a extra half.At 1m82, Gonzalo showed impressive jumping ability.
Alonso's leadership of the first team has opened a new horizon for young talents like Gonzalo. In addition, Endrick's injury - who cannot participate in the Club World Cup - also created conditions for him to shine.
off the field, Gonzalo is studying for a double degree in Business Administration and Business Data Analysis (specializing in big data). On the pitch, he is the type of player that Alonso loves. Understanders at Valdebebas have confirmed that he will be given a chance in the US - but in reality, it has exceeded expectations.
Im almost certain Gonzalo will stay this summer, a source close to The Athletic said, He is the most unique striker in the squad for now. Madrid does not have such a No. 9 model: Can play as a striker, play on the wing, exploit space and work tirelessly.
Real Madrid have been looking for a Joselu striker - a regional striker, accepting a reserve role and not spending too much budget. But if Gonzalo is the solution? After the match against Al Hilal in which Gonzalo was voted "Best Player", he was asked if he believed he would succeed at the Bernabeu? Of course I believe it. That is what I have been striving for since joining the Real Madrid training center.
From this American dream, Gonzalo can completely convince the rest.
