Xabi Alonso, the head coach of Real Madrid, has yet to make a decision regarding Gonzalo García’s place in the first team for the next season. García has made a significant impact during the Club World Cup, scoring three goals, including the winning goal in the Round of 16 against Juventus, and providing one assist. He is the only player to have directly contributed to a goal in every match of his team’s campaign in the tournament.
García ranks just behind Michael Olise, who has contributed to five goals, and trails only Ángel Di María, the tournament’s top scorer with four goals. With a shooting conversion rate of 33.3%, García stands out among players with at least nine attempts, sharing this stat with Kenan Yildiz.
The young forward, 22 years old, has started all four of Madrid’s matches in the Club World Cup after Kylian Mbappé fell ill before the opening match. García’s position in the starting lineup may come under scrutiny with the return of the French superstar, presenting a challenge for Alonso ahead of the 2025-26 season.
“Right now, we’re focused on the World Cup,” Alonso stated to DAZN. “There will be time to consider other matters. I knew him well; I didn’t expect him to score three goals in four matches, but I recognized his capacity for pressure, work ethic, and goal-scoring ability. I trusted him, and he is earning that trust.”
Real Madrid’s recent victory against Juventus has secured them a quarter-final clash against Borussia Dortmund, with a potential semi-final match-up against either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich looming ahead. Alonso expressed satisfaction with his team’s progress but emphasized the need for more cohesion, particularly with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
He remarked, “At the start, with [Aurelien] Tchouameni committed defensively, we had too many players behind the ball. We shifted our focus, and one player became unnecessary on the field. It’s about moving pieces, and I think we managed that well today.”
This narrative highlights the promising talent of Gonzalo García and the strategic adjustments being made by Alonso as Real Madrid progresses in the competition. It showcases the evolving dynamics within the team as they aim for continued success on the international stage.