In some ways, the initial matches under Xabi Alonso`s leadership at Real Madrid were noteworthy more for the players who were absent than for those who were present. Kylian Mbappe was unable to participate in the group stage due to a battle with gastroenteritis, while the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Rodrygo`s future at the club took another turn when he was given a starting role in only one of the team`s first four Club World Cup fixtures. Though it might not have seemed likely at the start, this situation provided the perfect backdrop for the emergence of Real Madrid`s surprise star on their journey to the tournament`s quarterfinals – Gonzalo Garcia.
The 21-year-old product of the club`s academy may have initially been seen as a temporary stand-in for the higher-profile attackers not named in the lineup, but he has rapidly cemented his place alongside Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham. He made his fourth start of the competition on Tuesday and repaid Alonso`s faith by scoring the only goal in the Round of 16 victory over Juventus, marking his third goal of the tournament. His latest was a header, instinctively glancing home a well-delivered cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Garcia is now among the leading scorers in the competition, tied with talents like Bayern Munich`s Harry Kane and Manchester City`s Erling Haaland, having netted three goals. This stands in stark contrast to his standing within the squad just a few weeks prior. Before the Club World Cup commenced, he had only six senior team appearances. This limited exposure was perhaps influenced by former manager Carlo Ancelotti, who wasn`t widely known for integrating young players. The extent to which Alonso will alter this approach remains to be seen, but regardless, Garcia`s rapid ascent is indicative of the environment created by the new format of the Club World Cup, highlighting both its positive and negative aspects.
Even as clubs from outside Europe`s elite leagues get their moment in the spotlight, the tournament theoretical structure still favors the major teams, creating scenarios where managers can experiment with tactics and player selections in the early phases. This is particularly relevant following a demanding season and arguably even more so for Real Madrid, as this tournament offers the first glimpse of Alonso`s vision for the team as they gear up for the upcoming season.
Based on Garcia`s performances alone, Alonso`s tactical experiments have proven successful – he boasts three goals and one assist in 293 minutes played, creating three scoring opportunities in the process. Alonso has already drawn parallels between him and Raul, Real Madrid`s celebrated goalscorer and fellow academy graduate. Garcia`s notable skill might be his versatility, which allows him to operate anywhere across the front line, a trait somewhat distinct from the team`s renowned yet arguably less flexible attackers. He has played a vital role as Alonso begins to refine his version of the team, aiming for a side that mirrors the successful high-pressing style of his former Bayer Leverkusen team and aligns with current tactical trends in football.
Looking beyond Garcia`s direct contributions, Alonso`s overall plans appear to be taking shape. Weeks after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal to begin the tournament, they delivered a dominant, attack-oriented display against Juventus on Tuesday. It wasn`t always aesthetically pleasing, but they outshot Juventus 21-6 and would likely have scored more than once had Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio not made 10 saves. Real Madrid achieved this performance by blending familiar faces with new additions, a mix likely to define Alonso`s initial period at the helm: mainstays Bellingham and Vinicius registered three and four shots respectively, while Dean Huijsen seemed increasingly comfortable in his new role as a ball-playing center-back, and Alexander-Arnold strengthened his claim as one of the summer`s best signings with an assist.
Garcia`s emergence, however, provides Real Madrid with a valuable depth and variety that was occasionally missing towards the end of their domestic and continental campaigns, which concluded without silverware. This bodes well for their prospects at the Club World Cup, especially following Manchester City`s unexpected elimination on Monday, and could inject significant optimism for the season ahead.
