Real Madrid News
Joselu heaps praise on Real Madrid youngster after impressive display vs Al-Hilal
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).
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.
Real Madrid News
Nico Paz’s message to Real Madrid after historic Champions League night: ‘I made the right decision’
Como had a night to remember in the history of their football club, taking part in the Champions League for the first time.
The Italian side’s rise to the top has been nothing short of remarkable, and under the astute guidance of Cesc Fabregas, they have reached the biggest competition in club football.
Como faced RB Leipzig on their Champions League debut, securing a 4-1 victory to mark the occasion, with Nico Paz starring for the Italians.
He delivered another reminder of his development away from Real Madrid, and the 22-year-old has become a star in his own right.
Paz shines on historic night for Como
The former Madrid academy attacking midfielder produced two assists as Como secured the win against the Bundesliga side.
As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Paz made it clear that he has no regrets about choosing to continue his career in Italy.
“It was a historic night. We played an incredible match. We were really looking forward to playing this game. I think we approached it in the best possible way. We are happy with the match we played,” Paz said.
Paz had already established himself as an important player in Serie A. Performing with similar influence in the Champions League is another test entirely, and he passed it with flying colours.
The Argentine also addressed his decision to remain at Como rather than return to Real Madrid.
“I thought this was the place where I was going to grow the most, and I think I made the right decision. I am very happy with my decision,” he said.
At Madrid, Paz would have entered an extremely competitive midfield and faced uncertainty over regular minutes.
At Como, he has responsibility, continuity and now the opportunity to develop through Champions League football.
The 22-year-old believes evenings such as the victory over Leipzig demonstrate why staying was the correct choice.
The road not taken ft. Nico Paz
Paz is one of the biggest examples that the conventional path to stardom is not the only way for young players in their footballing careers.
Many starlets are guilty of moving to big clubs earlier than they are ready and then seeing their development stagnate because of a lack of minutes.
Paz, on the other hand, has consistently veered away from this. Despite coming through Castilla, he has built a career for himself in Italy.
There is absolutely no doubt who the star of this Como team is, and the 22-year-old gets more responsibility at a young age than he would have at a club like Madrid.
The Serie A side is proving to be one of the most exciting teams to watch in Europe, and Madrid fans in particular will be curious to see how Paz fares over the course of the campaign.
