Top News

Jose Mourinho has reportedly intervened to prevent the summer transfer of Real Madrid academy product Gonzalo Garcia ahead of the upcoming season. The Portuguese manager is said to have tactical reservations about how Kylian Mbappe and Endrick fit into his preferred system, prompting him to consider the young Spanish striker as a realistic option for the central forward role.

Mourinho halts young striker’s transfer

According to Spanish outlet AS, newly appointed Real Madrid coach Mourinho has instructed the club to stop the proposed sale of 22-year-old forward Gonzalo. The academy graduate had been widely expected to leave the Santiago Bernabeu after the club valued him at around €60 million. However, after analysing the squad he inherited, Mourinho reportedly asked the club’s hierarchy to keep the player, believing he could play a key part in his tactical setup.

Concerns over attacking structure

The report explains that Mourinho’s decision follows a detailed tactical review in which he concluded that Real Madrid currently lack a traditional centre-forward. In his assessment, Mbappe is best utilised as a versatile attacker rather than a pure number nine, while Endrick appears more suited to playing from wide areas or as a secondary striker in certain tactical formations. As a result, the central striker’s position remains open, and Gonzalo could fill that gap.

Fitness impresses the coaching team

Gonzalo reportedly impressed the coaching staff by returning from his summer break in excellent physical condition, showing notable strength and determination to prove himself. The Spain Under-21 international had previously caught attention with his performances at the Club World Cup, where he finished as top scorer. He followed that achievement with eight goals in 1,471 minutes of first-team football during the 2025–26 season. His sharp finishing under former coaches Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa is now among the reasons Mourinho views him as a serious contender for a key role.

Upcoming pre-season opportunity

The No. 16 striker is expected to lead the attack for Los Blancos in their first pre-season friendly against Fiorentina in Klagenfurt, Austria, on August 1. With Mbappe still on his summer break and Endrick not set to feature, Gonzalo will have the perfect opportunity to make an impression. Over the course of five scheduled pre-season matches, he will aim to convince Mourinho that he deserves a regular place in the senior squad.