Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Garcia has revealed Raul keeps in touch with him after each game and said comparisons to his former Castilla coach are a “great compliment”.

Gonzalo has been the breakout player for Madrid during the Club World Cup, scoring the only goal of the game in the last-16 win over Juventus to bring his goal tally to three in four appearances.

The 21-year-old forward scored 25 goals in the 2024-25 Primera RFEF (the third tier of Spanish football) — an all-time record for a Castilla (Madrid’s reserve side) player, coming when legendary former Madrid striker Raul was the side’s coach.

“He has messaged after every game, we keep in touch,” Gonzalo said of Raul after the win over Juventus. “He congratulates me and tries to help in situations that can go better for me.”

Former Spain under-19 forward Gonzalo has impressed in Xabi Alonso’s new-look side with his form in front of goal drawing early comparisons to Raul, whose 323 career goals for Madrid is surpassed only by Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

“Well, it’s a comparison that obviously, respecting the distances…Raul is a Madrid legend and it’s a great compliment to be compared to him,” Gonzalo said.

“I have had the opportunity to share a dressing room with him as a coach these last two years and he has taught me a lot of things.”

Alonso himself said after Madrid’s progression through the group stages that Gonzalo reminded him of Raul.

“I knew a lot (about Gonzalo) because I’ve followed Castilla a lot,” Madrid’s new head coach Alonso said ahead of the last-16 tie. “For me, it’s not so surprising what he’s doing. He reminds me of Raul in many ways.”

Madrid now advance through to the quarter-final stage, where they will face the winners of Borussia Dortmund’s match against Monterrey of Mexico.

(Emilee Chinn – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)