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DONE DEALS
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Real Madrid BOMB as new No.9 revealed by Fabrizio Romano
Robin Bairner
- 7 Aug 2025 11:15 BST
- 4 min read
News
Real Madrid are set to go into the 2025/26 season with a new No.9, with Fabrizio Romano announcing who will wear the famous shirt that was Kylian Mbappe’s last season.
Mbappe has moved to the No.10 jersey this summer following the retirement of Luka Modric, leaving an iconic number without a wearer.
Los Blancos have spent nearly €170 million in the transfer market this summer, but have not recruited a natural successor for the jersey.
Romano says that they have, however, found an internal solution thanks to the blistering performance of Gonzalo Garcia at the Club World Cup.
The 21-year-old might have only played 61 minutes of top-team football under Carlo Ancelotti last season, but he excelled in the US thanks in part to an injury to Endrick and the illness of Mbappe. Now he is set to be rewarded for his displays.
Current ETV
Gonzalo García
F (C), AM (L)
Real Madrid
Gonzalo García
F (C), AM (L)
Real Madrid
ETV Range
€9.9M - €12.1M
“Real Madrid are in active talks over new deal for Gonzalo García,” Romano reported on X.
“Decision made in July about plan for striker to stay after an excellent Club World Cup as top scorer.
“New contract expected to be done as Gonzalo wants to stay… and wear the legendary No.9 shirt.”
Gonzalo Garcia contract an important step for Real Madrid
Gonzalo’s emergence has shaken the hierarchy of attackers at Real Madrid and provided Xabi Alonso with a welcome new option for the centre-forward role.
Mbappe is known not to favour the position while Endrick still looked raw in the role when he was deployed last term.
The 21-year-old, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €11m, is now set to slot in between these two stars in Real Madrid’s centre-forward order.
Should he continue his development, he will also give Los Blancos more leverage in their contract talks with Vinicius Junior, who wants his wage to match that of Mbappe. If Gonzalo can show he is a potential starter, the France international could be feasibly moved back to the left and the role he prefers, giving Vini less negotiating power.
The youngster’s new contract, therefore, could be an important step in the evolution of Real Madrid’s attack.
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