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If you hadn’t heard of Garcia prior to the Club World Cup, you will have now.<\/p>\n
The young Madrid forward has led the line in the absence of Kylian Mbappe – who made his comeback from gastroentiritis against Juventus – and has taken his chance with both hands.<\/p>\n
With three goals in four games, Garcia is Los Blancos’ top scorer at the tournament and is behind only Benfica’s Angel di Maria in the overall standings.<\/p>\n
Aside from a one-year spell away from the Spanish capital with Mallorca in 2018-19, the 21-year-old has been part of the Madrid set-up since the age of 10.<\/p>\n
He rose through the ranks and made his first appearance with Madrid’s B team, Castilla, in March 2022.<\/p>\n
The Spanish forward made his first-team debut in the November of that year but was still predominantly playing with Castilla, eventually scoring his first senior goal in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals against Leganes in February 2025.<\/p>\n
After Real’s 3-0 victory over Salzburg, in which Garcia scored his second goal at the tournament, Alonso likened his attributes to that of the legendary Raul Gonzalez.<\/p>\n
“What he’s doing isn’t a surprise. He’s done it many times at Castilla,” he said.<\/p>\n
“He’s the typical number nine, who knows how to wait for his opportunity, who moves well.<\/p>\n
“He has Raul qualities in his movements. There are no decisions regarding the start of next season.”<\/p>\n
Mikel believes Garcia has earned his chance to start, even with Mbappe’s return to fitness.<\/p>\n
“Who needs Mbappe when you have Garcia?” Mikel told Dazn.<\/p>\n
“I’m pushing for the young lad, he has been on fire. This is what we love to see – young players getting opportunities.”<\/p>\n
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, added: “In December 2024, Rahul \u2013 then manager of Real Madrid B \u2013 said Garcia should be in the first team. He was part of the youth team that won the treble in 2022\/23. He was playing as a nine but also can play as a left winger.<\/p>\n
“Real have been looking for a forward, someone who accepts his role behind Mbappe. Now they have got that nine through the ranks, Alonso has got a lot of confidence in him.<\/p>\n
“He was the third top scorer in Real Madrid B history, arrived at Real Madrid when he was 10 and now he is a first teamer.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n