It seems that the conflicts within the Real Madrid dressing room are never-ending. This time, three players are competing to wear the number 9 shirt next season, given its great value and special importance at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Kylian Mbappé wore the number 9 shirt last season, but the club’s management decided to give him the number 10 shirt after Luka Modrić left for financial reasons. This made the number 10 available for the starting striker at Los Blancos.
According to AS, three players are interested in wearing the number 9 shirt after Mbappé. The first to discuss this is Brazilian Endrick, who is in his second season in the Spanish capital and believes he deserves this great honor as the current first-choice striker.
The second name is Gonzalo Garcia, the young striker who emerged as a star at the 2025 Club World Cup, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals. The 21-year-old enjoys the confidence of coach Xabi Alonso, making him a strong candidate to take the number 9 jersey, especially after the decision to keep him and not loan him out next season.
The third name, but a highly unlikely one, is new signing Franco Mastrantuono, but it seems illogical for him to wear the number 9 shirt, given that he is a midfielder and has never worn the number in his career.
Real Madrid’s management is expected to play a role in identifying Mbappé’s successor for economic reasons, and in this regard, it may be beneficial for Endrick to take the number 9, as it would help increase the club’s sales in Brazil and possibly around the world.
It’s worth noting that the number 9 jersey has been worn by many Real Madrid legends, most notably Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, as well as Ronaldo Nazario, Ivan Zamorano, and perhaps the most important star in the history of the Merengue, Alfredo Di Stéfano.
