Jose Mourinho makes U-turn on young forward’s future, pushes for him to stay | OneFootball

As the in-charge of Real Madrid’s current project, Jose Mourinho carries the burden of profiling, balancing and bringing the best out of the first-team squad. 

The transfer decisions leading into the season, needless to say, play as important a role as the tactical outlay and Mourinho has thus taken the pressure on himself to personally coordinate every arrival and departure.

So far, the club have backed him well with all the signings he has demanded, but there is currently some pressure to sell. Identifying the right profiles whose departure to push for, needless to say, is easier said than done.

A change of heart

For weeks now, Real Madrid’s breakout academy star Gonzalo Garcia has been seen as exit-bound with clubs from the Premier League reportedly pushing for his arrival. Now, as relayed by MARCA, Mourinho has had a change of heart.

Mourinho wants Garcia to stay. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Indeed, the Portuguese tactician is now pushing to convince Garcia to stay at Real Madrid next season in what comes as a sudden turn of events.

Mourinho believes no player in the squad has even remotely similar characteristics to a striker and considers Garcia’s profile as ‘essential’ for his plans next season.

What makes the youngster special

As reported by the Spanish outlet, Mourinho appreciates several aspects of Garcia’s style of play and sees him as a natural poacher – something Real Madrid do not have a big name for.

Garcia to Fulham was close to complete. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

He sees Garcia as capable of pinning back centre-backs, dominating in the air and even offering various tactical solutions with his versatility based on the game state.

As of earlier this week, Fulham were looking to send in an offer of €30 million for the striker and Real Madrid saw it as good business. With Mourinho now counting on the player, however, matters are no longer the same.

The final decision will lie with Garcia, for staying at the club will mean he must settle for a bench role as an impact substitute. Given the player’s fighting nature and desire to prove his worth, however, he may well be open to that idea, especially if it involves winning Mourinho’s trust.