The journey of Gonzalo Garcia from Argentina to Spain

BeSoccer 4 hours ago |

Reading time: minutes

Santa Barbara has grown from 30 footballers to nearly 900. EFE

Gonzalo Garcia began his football journey not in Madrid, but in Tigre, Argentina, at the small amateur club Santa Barbara. Nicknamed Raul for his skill and a love of Real Madrid shirts, he impressed coaches and teammates from a young age.

The forward often trained with older children and quickly stood out for his dribbling and fiery temperament. Teammate Valentin Ruocco remembers him as "elusive" and full of determination.

Even in friendly matches, his talent was evident, including encounters against players like Giuliano Simeone, which highlighted his competitive spirit early on.

Over the years, Santa Barbara has grown from 30 footballers to nearly 900 across men's, women's and youth teams. The club has also produced talents like Mateo Pellegrino and Argentina internationals Milagros Martin and Francisca Altgelt, showcasing its growing reputation.

Frontera expressed pride in seeing Garcia reach the top level: "For us as a club, it's an enormous source of pride. Seeing him play today truly fills the entire Santa Barbara community with pride."

Plans are even underway for the club to visit Madrid, hoping to meet Garcia and present him with a club shirt.