Real Madrid have reportedly reached an agreement to extend the contract of 21-year-old forward Gonzalo Garcia following his breakout performances at this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
In fact, according to reports in Onda Cero, the La Fabrica graduate is also set to inherit the iconic No. 9 shirt from Kylian Mbappe following the Frenchman’s switch to the No. 10 in the wake of Luka Modric’s departure.
The No. 9 has been previously worn by Real Madrid legends such as Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazario, Fernando Morientes, and Alfredo di Stefano.
Garcia was used sparingly last season by Carlo Ancelotti, but the youngster has made an immediate impression on new boss Xabi Alonso.
His standout showing at the Club World Cup saw him score four goals in six matches, earning the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer and helping Madrid reach the semi-finals, where they were eliminated by eventual runners-up Paris Saint-Germain.
While Garcia’s rise was one of the more unexpected storylines of Madrid’s preseason, his impressive performances have earned him a well-deserved promotion to the first-team heading into the new season.
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What does Garcia bring to Madrid's stacked attack?
There is likely a long way to go before Garcia establishes himself as a starter in Alonso’s lineup, with superstar players like Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Brahim Diaz ahead of him in the pecking order.
Still, the Spaniard offers a unique profile that Madrid do not naturally have and very sorely missed last season – that of a classic centre-forward.
Strong in the air, able to hold up play, and a natural finisher, his role could be similar to the one played by veteran striker Joselu during Madrid’s successful 2023-24 campaign, providing an attacking impetus off the bench.
AS reported that there was an internal debate at Valdebebas earlier this summer regarding whether Garcia or Brazilian prodigy Endrick would serve as the secondary centre-forward behind Mbappe.
But it now seems as though both players will remain in at the Spanish capital this season, following the collapse of Endrick’s potential loan move to Real Sociedad.
With a packed fixture list across domestic and European competitions, Garcia is likely to receive opportunities to build on this summer’s momentum, even if he doesn’t start the season as a regular in Alonso’s lineup.
The 21-year-old was prolific at youth level, finishing as the top scorer in the Primera Federacion last season with 25 goals for Real Madrid Castilla.
Real Madrid kick off their La Liga campaign on August 20, hosting Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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