Real Madrid News
Real Madrid starlet could become a starter for Spain after Jordi Alba’s retirement
Real Madrid boast an incredible crop of young talents, with no shortage of potential in all departments of the squad.
The signing of Fran Garcia this season, after he spent a few years away at Rayo Vallecano, has instilled a great deal of optimism among the Madrid faithful.
A product of Madrid’s academy, the player is now set to represent the Merengues on the international scene.
Fran Garcia will replace Jordi Alba for Spain
Jordi Alba has been a legendary figure for Spain, having monopolized the left-back position for years owing to his ability to maraud up and down the pitch.
However, MARCA reports that the former Barcelona defender has decided to retire from international football, paving the way for Fran Garcia to become a possible starter for La Roja.
In light of Alba’s decision to conclude his chapter with La Roja, Garcia is expected to get the nod more frequently for the national team.
In 40 competitive games for Rayo last season, the left-back thoroughly excelled, contributing three assists and scoring twice. He is bound to represent Ancelotti’s team until 2027.
Fran Garcia will have to fight for his spot
One of the reasons for Alba’s retirement was the growing talent in the left-back position, with Fran Garcia being one of the players making rapid strides.
However, Garcia is not guaranteed to be a regular starter for the Spaniards just yet, as he finds himself competing with other players, including Alejandro Balde, Jose Gaya, and Alfonso Pedraza.
Garcia was in the Spain squad for the UEFA Nations League, which won the Euros, but he has yet to make his international debut.
After plying his trade for the U-17 sides, the youngster will be eager to leave his mark at the highest level.
Aurelien Tchouameni has had an exciting start to his career at Real Madrid. Since joining the club for almost €80 million last summer, the young Frenchman has now become a pivotal figure in Real Madrid’s midfield unit.
However, prior to his move to Santiago Bernabeu, the midfielder was closely linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
In a recent interview, Tchouameni opened up on his links to PSG but revealed his decision to join Real Madrid.
Aurelien Tchouameni on PSG links
Talking about speculations linking him to PSG, Tchouameni said (h/t Madrid Zone), “PSG? Frankly, I thought about it. It’s a very big European club, we want the French clubs to succeed.”
“But honestly, when Real Madrid calls you, it’s very complicated to say no,” Tchouameni added.
The midfielder was linked with a move to PSG during his time at AS Monaco. Les Parisiens wanted to sign the youngster as part of their plans to reinforce the midfield unit.
Tchouameni, though, ended up opting for a move to Real Madrid, which turned out to be a prudent decision from the midfielder’s end.
Tchouameni’s career at Real Madrid
Aurelien Tchouameni made a total of 50 competitive appearances during his maiden season at Real Madrid.
Although the Frenchman was not entirely a first-team regular in Carlo Ancelotti’s setup, his stature in the team is expected to grow in the coming years.
Especially as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric move on at the end of the season, there is scope for Tchouameni to become a first-team regular in the Real Madrid midfield in the years to come.
The former AS Monaco starlet has already played a crucial role in the starting eleven so far this season and it is only going to continue as the season progresses.
