The inaugration of Fifa Club World Cup has brought up a new level of excitement among the football fans and enthusiasts. The reason of this love affair of football fans with this new edition of Club World Cup consists of two reasons – High competative matches where we can see the surprise package of the Non European teams which they have showcased against the strong European Sides like Al Hilal, Flamengo.
An another reason is the performance of the Young Prodigies for both European and Non European teams, but out of all youngster, there is one youngster who shown out the brightest among all, named Gonzalo Garcia Torres.
Who is Gonzalo Garcia?
“I don’t care how… I just want to score. Left foot, right foot, header… just score!” says Gonzalo Garcia after scoring against Juventus in the Round of 16 of the Fifa Club World Cup.
Gonzalo Garcia is a 21 year old Spanish Striker who has broken out to scene in this Club World Cup through his poacher like finishing in and around the box and had came up with the impressive numbers of 3 goals and an assist in the Club World Cup this season and has been the star of the scene since the beginning.
Although he is the star of the hour, the game has not been kind to him. He has been a product of Real Madrid Castilla, the academy of Real Madrid and has impressed the club while coming through the ranks in the academy. He has scored impressive 30 goals in his Real Madrid Castilla youth career and has got the huge attention of the senior team when he scored 25 goals in 36 games in the Primera Federación last season. He has also been the part of Spain U-19 team has 10 matches under his belt as well.
He has been with the senior team since the start of the last season but mostly he has been on the bench but still have got 3 matches in his senior career, all from the bench but now in the Club World Cup, he got the chance of being the starter in the absence of Kylian Mbappe and without a doubt, he has given the full return to the trust which has been shown by the management.
Why is he so important for the Future of Real Madrid?
“Always pointing at the badge” states Fabrizio Romano in his Instagram Post for Gonzalo Garcia.
Although Gonzalo is in the dawn of his career, he can play a huge role in rebuilding the attack of Real Madrid, especially in Xabi Alonso’s system. He’s a proper number 9 who craves for goals. In this Club World Cup, his stats justifies why Real Madrid should consider him for the future as well for the present.
According to FotMob, he has got a staggering xG(expected goal ratio) of 2.05 with his 3 goals and also has got a xGOT(expected on target ratio) of 1.40 with 6 shots on target among the 9 shots he shot towards goal, this can grow better in future.
Among the rumours, Real Madrid may look to release Rodrygo and in the absence of Rodrygo, Xabi Alonso can use Kylian Mbappe in the position of Rodrygo on the right and due to that Gonzalo may become the striker Xabi Alonso is looking for as he has got good positioning sense and also the ariel ability even after not being the tallest of guys.
Not only the goal scoring ability, he has got a good passing range which may help Real Madrid in the build up while attacking as he has got a passing accuracy of 77.2% and has also created 3 chances in this Club World Cup which can improve as he plays at this level regularly and most importantly, he is just 21 and still away from his prime and with the age on his side and with a coach like Xabi Alonso, he can reach the heights of his potential and may become one of the biggest prospects in World Football.
Conclusion
The stats, the grit, the mentality and the passion – Gonzalo Garcia has it all. The way he is showing up to the biggest of stages when the eyeballs of the world are on him, he is stepping up to the occasions time and time again and because of him, Madridistas didn’t miss the giant presence of Kylian Mbappe and with the rise in the stature and maturity, Madrid fans can expect something huge from one of his home grown boy. From a boy who dreamt in Castilla can make the world stand on their feet. A boy who has whites in his veins – Gonzalo Garcia.
Baishali Karmakar 
Vibhor Gautam