Gonzalo Garcia may already have dropped major hint on future amid Sunderland and Aston Villa transfer interest

Sunderland have once again been linked with a prospective move for Real Madrid starlet Gonzalo Garcia, but the striker may already have dropped a major indication of his unwillingness to leave the Spanish giants.

The 21-year-old - an international teammate of Black Cats talent Eliezer Mayenda - was one of several centre forward options touted as prospective targets for Regis Le Bris’ men over the course of a hectic summer.

Ultimately, however, Garcia would stay put in Madrid, and has since put pen to paper on a fresh contract extension that is set to run until 2030. Nevertheless, speculation over his future has resurfaced in recent days, with Spanish publication Fichajes reporting that Sunderland are one of a number of Premier League sides monitoring the attacker, alongside Aston Villa and Wolves. The trio are said to be willing to offer around £17.6 million for his signature.

But after agreeing his new deal in August, and following a breakout FIFA Club World Cup during which he won the Golden Boot after registering four goals in six games, Garcia has seemingly been quick to shutdown any talk of him departing Real Madrid any time soon.

What has Sunderland-linked Gonzalo Garcia said about his new Real Madrid contract?

As quoted by Marca last month, Garcia made it clear that he never truly entertained the notion of leaving Madrid this summer, despite apparent interest from the likes of Sunderland and Leeds United. He said: "My only option has always been to stay at Real Madrid. For me, it's a dream to be part of the first team. And for now, I'm very happy and content with the decision I made.

“We’re talking about the best club in the world, and the competition is going to be fierce, because the best in the world are always here. But for me, having spent so many years in the youth academy and having been a Real Madrid fan since I was a kid, it’s a true dream to be part of the first team, and I don’t regret a single thing.”

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Garcia was also asked about his star turn at the Club World Cup, adding: "In the end, you look back on it now and I've come to terms with it better. But I look back at that Club World Cup and it still surprises me, even myself.

"In the end, what changes the most is at the media level, walking the streets and people recognizing you and knowing who you are. But with my family and friends, nothing has changed, because I'm the same, the same 21-year-old kid I was before playing in the Club World Cup."

Referencing his relationship with recently appointed head coach Xabi Alonso, he continued: "The truth is, it's been very, very good. As I've already said, when I played in the World Cup, Xabi showed me a lot of confidence, he was always giving me advice and supporting me so I could play calmly. The same goes for the group; he's very close to us, and for me, he's one of the best coaches in the world right now."

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