Real Madrid have been quietly searching for a striker who can play a supporting role, someone in the mould of Joselu, a player who might not start every game but can make a real impact when called upon.
Over the past few weeks, names like Ante Budimir have been discussed internally, but it now seems the solution might already be in-house.
Gonzalo Garcia, just 21 years old, put in a standout performance in Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in their Club World Cup opener.
Making his debut as a starter, the young forward scored the team’s only goal and earned the MVP title for his efforts.
In a game where the team lacked sharpness in front of goal, Gonzalo was relentless. He took more shots than any of his teammates—six in total—and hit the target four times.
His numbers even surpassed seasoned players like Federico Valverde, who missed the penalty, and Vinicius Jr..
What makes Gonzalo special is not just his ability to score, but how involved he is in the build-up. His goal against Al Hilal was the perfect example.
The Real Madrid number 30 started the move, followed it up with precision, and finished it off in a way that was far from perfect technically, but entirely effective. It showed maturity and instinct beyond his years.
With Kylian Mbappe unlikely to feature in the next game due to a bout of gastroenteritis, Gonzalo is expected to get more minutes against Pachuca. It is another opportunity for him to prove that Real Madrid don’t need to look elsewhere.
In just 151 minutes with the senior team this season, Gonzalo has scored two goals, one agauinst Al-Hilal and one against Leganes in the Copa del Rey and provided one assist.
That is a direct contribution every 50.3 minutes, an incredible return for someone only just breaking into the squad.
At this rate, Gonzalo might just become the impact substitute Real Madrid have been searching for.