Real Madrid News
Real Madrid could sign a left-back next summer, ex-academy ace on the agenda – Romano
Real Madrid could make a move to sign a new left-back in the summer window, reports transfer expert Fabrizio Romano (via amp). The journalist adds that Los Blancos are tracking the progress of former academy man Fran Garcia as a possible option.
The left-back position has become a matter of serious concern for Real Madrid of late. Ferland Mendy has been reliable for large parts but comes with his limitations and deficiencies as was visible in the game against Villarreal earlier today.
Beyond him, Los Blancos do not have a cover at the moment as David Alaba wishes to play as a centre-back. Nacho is available at Carlo Ancelotti’s, but cannot be counted as a top-quality option.
Thus, a new left-back is something that the reigning champions of Spain and Europe could look for in the market, apart from their well-known pursuit of Jude Bellingham. And, Fran Garcia, who left the club for Rayo Vallecano, is an option that is being looked at.
The 23-year-old is a product of Real Madrid’s academy and made one senior appearance for the club before leaving for Rayo in 2020. After spending a season on loan, his signing was made permanent and the left-back has grown leaps and bounds at the Vallecas.
Garcia is regarded as one of the most reliable left-backs in La Liga now, and according to Romano, Real Madrid have been following him for a long time now and could swoop for him in the summer.
Considering that the Merengues still own 50% of Garcia’s rights, they could sign him for half the amount of his €10 million release clause, i.e., €5 million.
However, Romano does mention that there are several other options on the list for Real Madrid.
In the recent past, there have been rumours about a move for Bayern Munich sensation Alphonso Davies, although the German giants are unlikely to want to lose their star player.
Another ex-academy man, Miguel Gutierrez, who left for Girona in the last summer window, had also been mentioned as a possible target not very long ago.
So, it remains to be seen who the Spanish capital giants bring in, but a new left-back seems very likely to come through the doors at the Santiago Bernabeu later this year.
It is astounding that despite being the biggest club in Spain, Real Madrid do not have many Spanish players to show for it.
Los Blancos do indeed boast of a special diversity in the dressing room, but their lack of locally trained players could pose problems according to MARCA.
The Spanish outlet confirms that UEFA does not mandate the inclusion of any minimum number of locally grown players for a club. However, the Spanish federation stipulates that a club in Spain must boast of at least eight players who meet a specific set of conditions.
Of the aforementioned eight candidates, there must be at least four players who have spent three seasons or 36 months at the club between the ages of 15 and 21.
Currently, only Nacho Fernandez, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez, Federico Valverde, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Mariano make up the required number on that front.
The problem, however, arises with the condition for the other four players in the list of eight. RFEF stipulates that the second set of four players must have completed at least 36 months in teams attached to the federation of Spain between the ages of 15 and 21.
Only Jesus Vallejo, Alvaro Odriozola, Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos tick the aforementioned box. However, all four players have uncertain futures at the club and are well-placed to depart in the summer.
There are thus big decisions to be taken over the transfer strategy for June. Real Madrid can work ways to ship all four players out, it would require the re-integration of players like Sergio Arribas, Miguel Gutierrez or Fran Garcia to ensure the fulfilment of the criteria.
With both Vallejo and Odriozola seemingly frozen out of Ancelotti’s plans, their departures from Santiago Bernabeu appear inevitable. Thus, the management could be forced to renew one of Asensio or Ceballos come June.
