OPINION: WHY XABI ALONSO IS MAKING A MISTAKE IGNORING STRIKER GONZALO GARCIA NOW
From Gonzalo Garcia’s clinical finishing to a Bellingham false nine, discover how Real Madrid will survive Mbappe’s muscle injury.
So, earlier this week, news dropped: Kylian Mbappe is out for three weeks. That’s a big blow for Real Madrid, especially with so many important games lined up in January.
Honestly, this whole situation didn’t have to happen. Mbappe skipped the Manchester City match, but then he played a full 90 minutes against a third-division team in the Copa del Rey just six days later. In between, he went the distance against Alaves. And then—another full match with Sevilla. It’s not hard to see how this could catch up with anyone.
You’d think this would be the perfect moment to have a Brazilian international striker available. But of course, Madrid just loaned him out to Lyon in Ligue 1. So, Xabi Alonso’s got some thinking to do. He’s got to figure out how to keep things rolling without his superstar.
So, what now? What should Real Madrid actually do without Mbappe?
First idea: play a real number nine—Gonzalo Garcia. In a recent chat with Diario AS, a former Real Madrid striker pointed out the obvious: the team misses having a classic centre-forward. Garcia could be that guy. He showed what he can do at the Club World Cup, bagging four goals and an assist. He connected really well with Vinicius, especially in games against Al Hilal and Juventus. That was the first time since Benzema left that Vinicius had a real target man to play off consistently.
People talk a lot about Endrick not getting minutes, but let’s be real—Garcia hasn’t had much of a shot either. He’s only played 365 minutes this season, which is barely over four games’ worth. Alonso should be thinking about giving him more time.
There’s also the option of going back to what worked in 23/24: the hybrid front three with Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo. For most of that season, Bellingham played as a number ten, with Vinicius and Rodrygo splitting striker duties in a diamond setup. Sometimes Bellingham shifted into a false nine role, with the Brazilians pushing wide and delivering balls into the box. The whole thing was super fluid, and it worked—both for the team and for the players themselves.
Sure, Alonso wasn’t in charge back then, and Mbappe wasn’t at the club. But you can bet Alonso knows how well that system performed. It’s got to be on his mind right now.
Then there’s the long shot: shifting Vinicius to a central position. Even though he’s been a left winger since Mbappe showed up, he’s drifted inside plenty of times. Under Ancelotti, he played more centrally, too, so maybe that’s an option over the next few weeks.
If Vinicius plays in the middle, Rodrygo can take his favoured spot on the left—even though he’s been doing well on the right lately. With Brahim Diaz away at AFCON, Franco Mastantuono could slot in on the right.
Or, you could flip it: Rodrygo has played as a central striker for club and country before. Move him to the middle, Vinicius on the left, and see what happens.
If you’re ranking options for Madrid right now, here’s how it shakes out: 1) Garcia up front, 2) Bellingham as a false nine with split strikers, 3) Vinicius as a false nine, 4) Rodrygo as a false nine.
WHY DID REAL MADRID CHOOSE TO KEEP ENDRICK DESPITE MASSIVE PREMIER LEAGUE INTEREST?
After a stellar loan at Lyon, Endrick will return to Real Madrid this summer alongside Jacobo Ramón to form a new youth core.
Real Madrid has zero plans to let Endrick leave this summer. That’s what we’re hearing, even with Arsenal and Chelsea knocking on their door. We’ve also got some updates on Jacobo Ramon’s future.
Endrick is finishing his loan at Lyon on a high note. He’s put up seven goals and seven assists in just 18 games, and people are excited about what he could do long-term.
The 19-year-old forward from Brazil wanted more game time after struggling for chances with Xabi Alonso in charge at Madrid, so he pushed for a loan. Now, with Alonso gone, Endrick’s focused on forcing his way into Brazil’s World Cup squad, and honestly, the way he’s been playing lately, he’s making a strong argument.
Big clubs are paying attention. Arsenal and Chelsea have both checked in recently to see if Madrid would be open to a deal for him this summer.
But Madrid’s answer? No chance. They’ve told both clubs straight up: Endrick’s coming back to the Bernabéu, and he’s in their first-team plans for next season.
Endrick’s on board with that, too. He wants to stay and fight for a spot, a real chance to prove himself as a regular in Madrid’s lineup.
Florentino Perez backs him all the way; he still believes Endrick is the best young talent out there. The club isn’t about to change its mind.
Endrick’s not the only Madrid youth getting attention from the Premier League. Arsenal and Chelsea have also been checking in about Jacobo Ramon, the young centre-back playing for Como in Italy right now.
Ramon’s been playing alongside Nico Paz under Cesc Fabregas and has done well. Even though he moved from Madrid to Como last summer, Madrid made sure to keep buy-back and sell-on clauses, so it’s almost like he’s still a Madrid player on loan.
Now, the plan is for Ramon to return to Madrid this summer with Endrick and Paz. The club’s looking to keep its young core together and build the future around them.
Lots of clubs are watching Ramon; more than six want to sign him. But honestly, Madrid’s stance is pretty clear: just like with Endrick, they aren’t budging.
So for Arsenal, Chelsea, and anyone else hoping to swoop in, the message is simple. Madrid is keeping their best young talents. They’re not letting them go.
HOW HECTOR BELLERIN’S 94TH-MINUTE STUNNER PUSHED REAL MADRID TO THE TITLE BRINK
Real Madrid's title hopes faded after a 1-1 draw with Real Betis. Discover the impact of Bellerin’s goal and Mbappe’s injury.
Real Madrid’s La Liga dreams took a big hit Friday night when Héctor Bellerín scored a 94th-minute equaliser, earning Real Betis a 1-1 draw. With that late goal, Madrid now sit eight points behind Barcelona, and if Barça win their next match, they could pull even further away with just a handful of games left.
Madrid actually started strong in Seville. Vinícius Jr took advantage of a goalkeeping mistake and put them ahead early in the 17th minute. After that, Madrid had control for large stretches, but it just didn’t translate into goals. Kylian Mbappé had one ruled out for offside, and Jude Bellingham, along with the rest of Madrid’s attack, missed some big chances. It all came back to haunt them when, in the dying seconds, Bellerín capitalised on the chaos at the back and smashed in the equaliser.
People are talking about Madrid’s defence and not in a good way. They’ve failed to keep a clean sheet for ten straight league games. The last time the backline struggled this much in a single season was way back in 2003-04, when Carlos Queiroz was in charge. This run has cost Madrid dearly, with dropped points piling up right when the title race is heating up.
This result marks Madrid’s fifth league draw this season, another missed chance that opens the door for Hansi Flick’s relentless Barcelona to run away with the title. With their Champions League hopes already gone, Madrid are now staring at what could be just their fifth season without a trophy this century. About the only bright spot? Mbappé made his 100th appearance for the club, becoming just the tenth Frenchman to reach that milestone for Madrid. Still, even that was undercut; he limped off with a suspected hamstring injury about ten minutes from the end.
Honestly, the title now looks like a lost cause. If Barcelona beat Getafe, they will go 11 points clear. Madrid has two tough away fixtures next: Espanyol, then Barcelona in a do-or-die El Clásico that could finish off their title hopes for good. With their form stalling and Barça flying, Madrid now need a minor miracle and a huge Barcelona slip-up to avoid ending this season empty-handed.
Must Read
