Joselu heaps praise on Real Madrid youngster after impressive display vs Al-Hilal | OneFootball

Real Madrid did not have the desired start to their FIFA Club World Cup campaign, drawing 1-1 with Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal in their Group H opener.

In a game that was missed by Kylian Mbappe, young striker Gonzalo Garcia became the big talking point for Los Blancos.

The 21-year-old led the line exceptionally well and even scored Real Madrid’s only goal of the game.

Joselu heaps praise on Gonzalo Garcia

In the wake of his performance against Al-Hilal, Garcia received praise from none other than Joselu.

Joselu, who served as Real Madrid’s backup striker during the 2023/24 campaign, heaped praise on the youngster, not only for his performance against Al Hilal, but for the season he has had with Castilla.

“He’s had a spectacular campaign with Castilla. He’s a kid with a lot of goals. What I like most about him is his Madridismo. You can see that on the pitch,” he said (h/t Mundo Deportivo).

Gonzalo Garcia was the star of the show for Real Madrid vs Al Hilal (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

A product of the Real Madrid youth setup himself, Joselu certainly knows a thing or two about playing for Los Blancos in high-pressure situation.

And the veteran couldn’t stop from praising Garcia’s determination as well as his playing style. “He never gives up on a ball; he presses, and despite his height, he wins many duels in the air. He never gives up on a ball,” he added.

Joselu’s high praise for Garcia came when he was commentating during Real Madrid’s game against Al-Hilal.

Continuing his praise, the veteran even backed Garcia to score a lot of goals for Los Blancos next season.

“We saw it in the first pressure of the match, when he almost slipped past the goalkeeper. He’s a profile that I think Madrid will use a lot and will bring points. I think he’ll score a lot of goals,” he concluded.

Joselu is currently plying his trade in Qatar for Al Gharafa, with the forward already netting 18 goals in 35 matches for the club.