Real Madrid News
Real Madrid one step away from re-signing €10 million-rated former defender – report
Real Madrid are inching closer to securing the signing of former left-back Fran Garcia from Rayo Vallecano, according to Tomas Roncero of AS.
The 23-year-old is a product of the Real Madrid youth academy, but left the club in 2020 in search of regular game-time. Having joined Vallecano, Garcia has thrived at the club and is enjoying a solid 2022/23 season.
Given that he has a €10 million release clause in his contract, clubs had been circling to sign him up. Bayer Leverkusen, in particular, were intent on securing his services and had informed their intention to offer the release clause amount.
With Real Madrid having a first refusal on Garcia, they were mulling over their next move after learning Leverkusen’s interest.
And AS is now reporting that Los Blancos have decided to match Leverkusen’s €10 million offer as well as the contract proposal that the Bundesliga outfit were willing to hand Garcia.
BILD in Germany is also reporting that Real Madrid have exercised their first refusal option on the Spanish defender, putting an end to Bayer Leverkusen’s hopes of signing him.
The 23-year-old, for his part, has always maintained that he wishes to return to Real Madrid one day and had instructed his agent to prioritise negotiations with the Merengues should they decide to make a move to bring him back.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have now decided to pull the trigger on the left-back, and are said to be just one step away from re-signing Garcia.
However, once they complete the signing, it is expected that the defender will be loaned back to Rayo Vallecano for the rest of the season as Real Madrid do not intend to cause any sporting damage to their La Liga rivals, who have been heavily reliant on Garcia this season.
Once he returns in the summer, Garcia will compete with Ferland Mendy for the left-back position. The Frenchman has not been convincing enough this season while David Alaba has made it clear that he wishes to play as a centre-back, leaving Ancelotti short of options.
Real Madrid News
Ancelotti talks Mendy, Vinicius, Gavi, Tobias, Brazil job ahead of Real Madrid vs Valladolid
Real Madrid will be gunning to bounce back to winning ways when they lock horns with Real Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday afternoon.
Los Blancos were on the receiving end of a 2-1 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Barcelona the last time they were in action. The result meant that Carlo Ancelotti’s side have now fallen 12 points behind the Catalans in the La Liga title race.
The gap could widen to 15 points given that Barcelona are playing bottom-placed Elche later tonight. So, it becomes imperative for Real Madrid to make sure that there are no more slip-ups if they are to have any hope of pulling off a comeback in the title race.
Ahead of the game at the Bernabeu on Sunday, manager Ancelotti addressed the media, and discussed Ferland Mendy’s fitness situation as well his future amid links to the Brazil national team, among various other things.
On the state of the squad: “We are fine. The internationals are in good shape. We were unlucky to have Mendy injured but we are ready.”
On the speculations about his future and links to replacements: “I’m not surprised that there are these rumours. It doesn’t affect me, it doesn’t worry me. I’m just focused on fulfilling my duties with this club and with this team.
“I’m still here until Real Madrid allow me to stay here. I’m very well and I feel the affection of the president, the fans and the players. We have two months ahead of us and then hopefully we can continue.”
On others’ opinions on the job he is doing: “Everyone can say what they want. I know I have a contract and I want to fulfil it. I don’t know what might happen in the future.”
On the Brazil national team rumours: “The reality is that the Brazilian national team wants me and I love it and I’m very excited about it, but then I have to respect the contract I have and I want to fulfil it.”
On whether he will retire after the Real Madrid job: “No. I’m not thinking about it now.”
On the contract renewals: “The atmosphere at the moment is very calm and very focused on what we have to do. What is being talked about in the press is an outside issue. We hear it but it’s not an issue that worries us. The players know very well what they have to do.”
On whether Vinicius would be treated differently if he played for another club: “If my grandfather had wheels, he would be a cart. There have been problems with Vinicius, Gavi, we must respect the players.”
On Vinicius Tobias: “He is progressing very well and like the rest of the Castilla players we will have to talk about his future when the season is over.”
On injuries: “We have the same problems as in other teams. Mendy has not had a good season. We will replace him well as we did when he was out.”
On Brazil Federation president Ednaldo Rodrigues: “If he wants to talk to me I would love to meet and greet him.”
On Barcelona getting an extra day’s rest ahead of Copa semi-final: “I’m not surprised, it doesn’t bother me. They have an extra day but we have time to recover and there is no problem.”
Source: Real Madrid Twitter
Solomon Moses
January 31, 2023 at 6:32 pm
Good sporting idea and policy to re-sign Fran Garcia