Fulham are edging closer to a deal for Gonzalo García, according to AS, though Real Madrid still have real reservations about how the transfer would actually be structured. The Premier League club are willing to offer more than Madrid’s initial valuation — reportedly up to €30 million for 50% of the forward’s economic rights, or as much as €60 million for full ownership. It’s the second half of that equation that’s proving to be the sticking point.
Why this is really an Arbeloa story
The driving force behind Fulham’s pursuit is Álvaro Arbeloa — who isn’t just García’s former Castilla and Real Madrid boss, but is now Fulham’s own head coach, having taken the job after leaving the Bernabéu when Mourinho arrived this summer. Arbeloa considers García his protégé, has personally pushed for the move, and wants to build Fulham’s attack around him following Raúl Jiménez’s departure at the end of his contract. It’s a genuine reunion play, not just a standard transfer pursuit — and it’s the reason Fulham are insisting on full ownership rather than a partial-rights structure.
García’s pre-season case
García has made a real push to change Mourinho’s mind since preseason began, scoring in last Wednesday’s friendly against Leganés. His academy numbers speak for themselves: 73 appearances and 30 goals for Real Madrid Castilla, plus 13 goals in 51 total appearances for the senior side, including a Club World Cup Golden Boot last summer that earned him a contract extension through June 2030. Reports on Mourinho’s actual verdict have been mixed — some describing him as wanting García to stay as squad depth, others suggesting he’s now approved the departure and left the final decision to the player himself, given he can’t promise consistent minutes with Kylian Mbappé leading the line.
The real disagreement: ownership structure
That long contract gives Real Madrid real leverage, and they’re using it. Rather than a clean sale, Madrid want to follow the model they’ve used with other academy graduates like Nico Paz — selling only a portion of his rights while retaining a buy-back clause or matching rights on the rest, so they keep a route back to him if he thrives elsewhere. Fulham’s position is the opposite: with their own project built around him, they want no complications down the line and are pushing for complete control of his registration.
RMxtra Verdict
Both sides appear to be converging on a fee, which is usually the harder part of any negotiation — but the structural disagreement here isn’t really about money at all, it’s about whether Real Madrid can stomach fully letting go of a player they still see long-term value in. Given how far apart the two ownership models are, don’t be surprised if this drags a little longer than the price tag alone would suggest.
