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After 3 matches at the FIFA Club World Cup, Gonzalo has 2 goals and 1 assist. |
Football is not just a game of stars, but also a place where the quietest names can shake up the seemingly established order. That is exactly what is happening at Real Madrid, where Gonzalo Garcia - a little-known "homegrown product" - is quietly making both Endrick and Rodrygo feel uneasy.
And from there, a quiet shift is taking place in the attack of the Spanish royal team.
Gonzalo came into the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup™ with little expectation, even more in the transfer rumour mill than in the game plans. But Kylian Mbappe's unexpected absence due to illness gave the 21-year-old an opportunity that could not have been better - and he seized it with all his instinct, patience and courage.
While Endrick was recovering from injury and Rodrygo was still lacking, Gonzalo suddenly became a mainstay on the front line. Without flashiness or need for show, he impressed with his simple yet effective playing style: running tirelessly, pressing fiercely, heading powerfully and always knowing how to find space in the penalty area.
After 3 matches, Gonzalo has 2 goals and 1 assist - neat numbers, but reflecting a form that makes even famous names wary.
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Gonzalo revives the image of a classic “number 9”. |
It’s not just the statistics that are worth mentioning here. Gonzalo revives the image of a classic “number 9”: someone who carries, fights, opens up space for his teammates, and is ready to fight any central defender. Coach Xabi Alonso did not hesitate to praise him: “He is the type of striker who knows how to wait for the right moment, moves intelligently. There is something of Raúl in every step he takes.”
And so, among the glittering South American stars, Gonzalo became the impetus for a new competition. Especially for Endrick - the Brazilian gem, only 18 years old but Real has placed all their trust in him, both professionally and commercially.
But while Endrick was recovering at Valdebebas, the place he thought was his was gradually being filled by a less-than-observed teammate. Sensing this, Endrick immediately set off for the US to join the team, even though he was not sure if he would be able to play – a symbolic move, but also a wake-up call for himself.
For Rodrygo, the situation is not much brighter. His preferred position is being contested, his form is inconsistent, and he is now at risk of being dropped from the priority group of Xabi Alonso - who always favors discipline and absolute efficiency. In a team that is rebuilding and aiming to conquer all titles, no one is allowed to play on inspiration.
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Rodrygo Goes' future is in jeopardy. |
Gonzalo’s rise – however momentary – is testament to an old truism: there is no safety at Real Madrid. No one is protected by age or expectation, and the opportunity never comes twice if you waste it. Gonzalo understands this better than anyone, and by his hard work he is putting both of his expensive teammates in a difficult position.
Of course, when Mbappe returns, the status quo may be restored. But no one is sure that Xabi Alonso will forget Gonzalo, who has proven himself to be a strategic asset – a ‘game-changing’ striker from the bench, or even a starter in a deadlocked game. At Madrid, you don’t have to be a big name – you just have to be there at the right time.
Gonzalo Garcia did just that. And now it's up to Endrick and Rodrygo to answer: who is the real future of Real Madrid's attack?
Source: https://znews.vn/gonzalo-garcia-khien-endrick-rodrygo-bat-an-post1564373.html
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