Aston Villa told outcome of £26m bid for Kylian Mbappe’s ‘natural substitute’

Aston Villa have expressed interest in signing William Osula after facing a setback in their pursuit of Real Madrid's young talent Gonzalo Garcia.

Garcia made a remarkable start to the new year by scoring his first senior hat-trick in Real Madrid's 5-1 victory over Real Betis. The 21-year-old academy graduate initially gained attention during last summer's Club World Cup, where he scored four goals under manager Xabi Alonso. However, due to the depth of attacking talent at Real Madrid, he had started only one of the team's first 17 LaLiga matches this season.

An injury to Kylian Mbappé provided Garcia with a rare opportunity to start against Betis, and he delivered an impressive performance. His hat-trick made him only the second Real Madrid player in the 21st century to score a hat-trick as his first LaLiga goals, joining Ruud van Nistelrooy in this achievement. Additionally, the match marked the first time in over 36 years that Real Madrid scored five goals in a LaLiga game solely through academy players, a feat last accomplished in a 7-2 win over Real Zaragoza in 1989.

In a post-match interview, Garcia acknowledged the intense competition at Real Madrid, stating that he is Mbappé's natural substitute but remains focused on giving his best in training and seizing opportunities when they arise. He expressed happiness with his goals but emphasized his greater satisfaction with the team's performance and victory.

Garcia's standout performance comes at an inconvenient time for Premier League clubs interested in signing him. According to reports from Spanish outlet Fichajes, Aston Villa have submitted a £26 million bid for Garcia. European football expert Andy Brassell commented that Garcia has emerged at the right time and appears very assured in his abilities.

#Club World Cup #Premier League #5-1 Victory vs Real Betis #1st Senior Hat-trick #1 Start in 17 LaLiga Matches