Gonzalo filling Joselu's boots as Madrid's super-sub striker
Real Madrid's academy product Gonzalo García is stepping up brilliantly in Mbappé's absence with a scoring streak reminiscent of Joselu's impact last season.
Madrid’s young academy product is proving he’s got the Barnet fair to be the club’s go-to impact striker when the big names are missing.
The perfect stand-in
When Xabi Alonso handed Gonzalo García the number 9 shirt on January 4th, temporarily filling in for the absent Mbappé, few could have predicted just how brilliantly the youngster would grasp his opportunity. After netting against Barcelona right before half-time in the Supercopa final, Gonzalo has now bagged an impressive four goals in just three starts during Mbappé’s absence.
This spectacular return mirrors his performance in the Club World Cup, where he became the tournament’s top scorer with four goals in six matches when Mbappé was sidelined with gastroenteritis. The pattern is clear - when called upon, this lad delivers.
The new Joselu?
Gonzalo’s current form evokes memories of Joselu’s impact last season, when the veteran striker notched 17 goals despite not being a regular starter. Madrid have occasionally missed that reliable bench option this campaign - someone who can come on and make the difference when the regular starters need a rest or aren’t firing on all cylinders.
The youngster seems more than ready to take up that mantle, providing Xabi with a genuine goalscoring option from the bench whenever needed. It’s the kind of depth that championship-winning squads require.
Rising through the ranks
With his Supercopa strike against Barcelona, Gonzalo has now reached nine goals in total for Real Madrid:
- Five goals last season while still officially a Castilla player
- One in the Copa del Rey
- Four in the Club World Cup
- Four this season as a first-team squad member
These numbers already make him the tenth-highest scorer in the current squad, remarkably placing him ahead of the much-hyped Endrick, who has seven goals to his name.
If he continues at this rate, the gaffer might have a proper selection headache on his hands - which is exactly the sort of problem top managers want.