Former Real Madrid youth boss backs 21-year-old ace to reach Haaland’s level – ‘Can score 50 goals’ | OneFootball

Hernan Perez, now Spain’s U-17 coach, knows Real Madrid’s rising star Gonzalo Garcia better than most.

Perez coached the young forward in Real Madrid’s U-17 team during the 2021-22 season alongside other promising talents like Raul Asencio and Víctor Munoz.

In an interview with AS, Perez opened up about what makes the 21-year-old striker stand out, especially after his impressive performances at the FIFA Club World Cup.

When asked what first caught his attention, Perez said, “His desire to work and his eagerness to learn more every day and improve in every training session.

“That character and ambition, along with his human qualities, made me see that he could go far. He was always very polite, even a little shy, and everyone liked him.”

Urges Real Madrid to trust Garcia

On whether Garcia should leave Real Madrid to get more playing time, Perez explained, “My theory is that young players need to play a lot of minutes, but maybe they don’t need to leave because they can have them in the Real Madrid first team.

Barcelona has brought in young players and they have responded. There’s no need to send them to a lower division to play more.

“I’m sure the same would happen with Gonzalo, but you have to dare to play him. If you give him 50 games, he can score 50 goals.”

Perez has tipped Garcia for greatness. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Regarding how Garcia could fit in a team that might include stars like Kylian Mbappe, Perez noted, “That’s the challenge for the coach, and Xabi has plenty of talent.

“Maybe we should include both of them, and it would be very good for the team. I’m convinced he wouldn’t disappoint at all.”

Comparison with Haaland and Joselu

Finally, when asked about Garcia’s potential, Perez shared his high hopes, stating, “Very high. The more demanding the level and the better coaches he has, the more he’ll grow.

“I think he can be a Real Madrid striker for ten or twelve years. I know the demands Real Madrid has, but I don’t think Garcia will be far behind Haaland if they give him the continuity and the prominence he needs.

“If he doesn’t have that confidence, he’ll fade, but if they believe in him, he’ll reach great heights.”

Perez finished with a bold comparison by noting, “I know what he can do. Now they’re comparing him to Joselu, but my opinion is that he’s a more evolved player; you could say he’s Joselu 2.0.

“Gonzalo can play not only up front, but also behind the number 9 or on the wing. He has a good shot on goal, a magnificent header, and is very clever. He’s very complete.”