Xabi Alonso finds a long-term replacement for Mbappé, it's already confirmed

Having Kylian Mbappé on your team means several goals per season and guaranteed success. Real Madrid, in its first season with Mbappé, has realized this as the matches have gone by. However, in the moments when Mbappé has been unavailable, Real Madrid has had problems.

Needing a long-term replacement for Kylian Mbappé, Xabi Alonso has found the ideal player. Gonzalo García, the youth academy product who impressed during his debut at the Club World Cup, is the player chosen by Xabi. Showing all his talent in the match against Al Hilal, Gonzalo will once again start for the match against Pachuca.

Although this starting position is due to Mbappé's absence because of his gastroenteritis, this starting position shows the trust in Gonzalo. Faced with the need for a reliable striker, Xabi hasn't had any doubts in choosing Gonzalo.

Mbappé's replacement

At just 21 years old, Gonzalo García is one of the great talents from Real Madrid's youth academy. Arriving in 2014 at the Youth Soccer Base, Gonzalo managed to progress until reaching Castilla in 2023. This important step wasn't a problem for Gonzalo, who became one of the team's main references.

Scoring 26 goals and providing 5 assists during the season, Xabi gave him the opportunity to play with the first team. He didn't waste the opportunity, being the author of Real Madrid's only goal against Al Hilal.

After such a display of talent, Gonzalo earned the opportunity to prove his worth again against Pachuca. While waiting for Kylian Mbappé's return, Real Madrid has found the striker it needed so much in Gonzalo García.

Xabi's opportunities

One of Xabi Alonso's characteristics as a coach is the opportunities he gives to young talents. With this being one of the keys behind its successful project at Leverkusen, Xabi has chosen to repeat the plan with Real Madrid. Gonzalo García could be the first of the youth academy players to get an opportunity with the first team.