![[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 1, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Real Madrid C.F. forward Gonzalo Garcia (30) reacts scoring their first goal during a round of 16 match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Hannah Mckay-Reuters via Imagn Images](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_90,w_2300,h_1293/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/384/01kgjf55e2dedavcqd8j.jpg "[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 1, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Real Madrid C.F. forward Gonzalo Garcia (30) reacts scoring their first goal during a round of 16 match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Hannah Mckay-Reuters via Imagn Images")
For a young player, one of the best things during the early stages of their career is to gain the recognition of a legendary player, their stamp of approval, and their belief that they will become a great player in the future. This can serve as a significant building block for their future and provide the boost and confidence they need to take the next step toward becoming a great player.
And for Real Madrid, the latest highly-rated youngster on their hands who looks on course to be the next big thing at the Bernabeu is Gonzalo Garcia. The 21-year-old Castilla product burst onto the scene during last summer's Club World Cup and has been a regular in the first team squad this season.
He took home that tournament's Golden Boot, which was enough for fans to believe he was the real deal early on, but his incredible hat-trick this season against Real Betis sealed their verdict that he has what it takes to be a key player for Los Blancos.
However, for Gonzalo, he doesn't just have the backing from the fans; former Los Blancos players are fully behind the young striker, with one legendary striker full of nothing but praise for the star, and his words are music to fans' ears.
Real Madrid icon hails 'important' Gonzalo Garcia
While speaking in an interview recently with AS Diario (via Madrid Xtra), former Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes was full of nothing but praise for Gonzalo Garcia, highlighting his importance to Los Blancos:
"Gonzalo Garcia is extremely important to Real Madrid. All he does is contribute, contribute and contribute."
Fans have been saying all season how important Gonzalo is to Madrid, but for an iconic former player like Morientes to say it as well is the stamp of approval that seals Gonzalo's status as the real deal. Morientes himself was part of a classic era at the Bernabeu and knows what it means to contribute to the famous Spanish team. He scored 100 goals in 272 games, and while he wasn't the main goal scorer, he was still playing a major part in the attack, similar to what Gonzalo is doing for Real this season.
Real Madrid have been in desperate need of a classic number nine for years now and they have finally found the solution in Gonzalo. The 21-year-old could be the final missing piece to creating a perfectly balanced attack, where all three work in tandem and lead the club to incredible amounts of success in the near future.