As reported that Real Madrid officials backed out of another deal to bolster Xabi Alonso’s attacking line this summer, due to the impressive performance of young player Gonzalo Garcia.
Since the end of last season, Real Madrid’s management decided to look for a new striker with similar qualities to Joselu, one with the necessary experience in La Liga and who could be relied upon as a backup in difficult situations.
To this end, Real Madrid’s management identified Ante Budimir, the Osasuna striker, as Joselu’s successor. Discussions began between Los Blancos and the player’s agent, and all that was expected of him landing at the Santiago Bernabéu, especially given the small release clause in his contract with his club.
However, Garcia’s impressive performance at the 2025 Club World Cup ended Budimir’s chances of moving to Real Madrid. Alonso was very attached to the 21-year-old player, believing him to be sufficient to fill the role of Joselu and other important roles, making him untouchable.
Real Madrid had originally planned to send Garcia out on loan this summer, but everyone was shocked by how the player shone in the World Cup and showed his true mettle. The club subsequently decided that renewing his contract and continuing with him was the best option, and they finally abandoned the idea of signing Budimir.
It’s worth noting that the 34-year-old Croatian is Osasuna’s all-time leading foreign scorer with 58 goals, breaking Vergara’s record of 21 goals in a single season. He has recently rejected several Saudi and Turkish offers, preferring to remain in Pamplona.
