Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid star opens up about his departure: ‘Another €60 million signing was coming’
Real Madrid had an eventful summer transfer window headlined by superstar arrivals.
With a new manager, a new setup and several new players joining the dressing room, the hope was that Los Blancos would turn a new leaf and put an end to their recent trophyless run.
A major part of the same revamp was in the player departures that the club facilitated to balance the squad out. One of the big names who left the club, in that regard, was the left-back Fran Garcia who joined Real Betis.
Fran Garcia’s interview
Speaking to the media in a recent interview via Defensa Central, the former Real Madrid full-back clearly opened up on why he left the club in the summer.
“The situation was complicated because I knew the kind of role I had had throughout these years, even though I had ended up playing almost every season I was there.”
“But, well, I understand that another €60 million signing was coming after Álvaro [Carreras], who cost €50 million,” he added.
“I understand that they are going to give that priority to them over a youth academy player, because that is more or less the policy that has been demonstrated over the years,” Garcia concluded.
The player then spoke on his mentality, the type of player he is and his competitiveness.
“I’m a player who likes to compete. I like to enjoy this beautiful thing that football is and everything that comes with it.”
“I asked the club if they could give me the option to leave, and we started considering different possibilities. Betis was one of them, and in the end, the move happened,” he added on his departure.
Garcia also expressed how it felt to join a new club at this stage in his career and how the change has been pleasant for him.
“The feeling of leaving and having people show you their affection, give you words of gratitude for your time there, including people with whom I spent more or less time.”
“It is all very pleasant. For me, being someone who came through the club and grew up there, it is even more meaningful,” he added.
Garcia was then asked to detail how his transfer to Real Betis unfolded, to which he said,
“It all happened very quickly. They called me at night, the next morning I packed everything, and the following day I went to Germany with the squad because they already knew that I was going to move.”
Finally, the left-back recounted how his time at Real Madrid was very special on both an individual and a collective level.
“I found myself in a special situation where, in my first year there, we won the league, the Champions League and the Super Cup.”
“It is a season that leaves a huge mark on you in terms of trophies and in terms of the dreams you have chased since childhood,” he added.
“Being able to achieve all of that in your first season is something very special,” Garcia concluded.
In a major update, AS reports that former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Toni Kroos has taken his first step towards starting his coaching career.
The former Germany international has told the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that he is interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers.
Real Madrid tried to bring Kroos back
It is no secret that Real Madrid considered bringing Toni Kroos back into the club’s structure after the end of the last season.
The club president, Florentino Perez, had wanted Kroos to have a daily presence at Valdebebas rather than making occasional appearances after his retirement.
Jose Angel Sanchez and Kroos spoke after Perez expressed his desire to see the German working at Valdebebas every day. However, they did not find the right moment, time or structure to give his return a clear form.
A comeback remains one of the possibilities most desired by Madrid supporters because of Kroos’ charisma and what he represents at the Santiago Bernabeu. Neither side wanted him to return simply for the sake of it, so the door remains open for the future.
The relationship between the two parties is excellent, and both know that the opportunity to work together again will eventually come.
Taking it step by step
For now, Kroos continues to run the academy he established in Boadilla, enjoying the opportunity to help develop younger players.
After two years away from the competitive side of football, however, he is beginning to look towards the dugout as a possible next step in his career.
Kroos currently holds coaching qualifications that allow him to work up to the third tier of Spanish football.
This is possible because professionals with at least seven years of proven experience and significant involvement at the elite level can gain direct access to accelerated coaching courses.
That means Kroos could coach a team in Primera Federacion, but the German wants to take things gradually.
Kroos has already informed the RFEF that he would be interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers during the 2027/28 season.
The course taking place this season is not available to elite former players, with UEFA limiting each campaign to 20 places.
With his current qualifications, Kroos could work as an assistant coach, but he cannot yet take charge as a head coach in either the top flight or the Segunda División.
But completing that programme would allow Kroos to obtain the UEFA A licence, which would enable him to coach teams at any level.
