Fran García is Earning His Spot
Xabi Alonso's system is bringing the best out of his wing back.
In a summer full of transfer rumors for Real Madrid after the club’s poor 2024-25 campaign, the left-back position was one of the priorities for Florentino Pérez.
Álvaro Carreras was heavily rumored to join Los Blancos before the 2025 Club World Cup, but SL Benfica was not willing to let him go.
This left Xabi Alonso no choice but to start 25-year-old Fran García.
Fitting Xabi’s System
Before the tournament, Madridistas did not want to see Garcia’s name on the team sheet. Carlo Ancelotti didn't trust him and the left back only played due to the surprising number of injuries the club endured.
In the first match against Al-Hilal, García was phenomenal. Defensively, he was solid making three clearances and three tackles, including a last man stand.
On the attack, García had 68 touches completing 92 percent of his passes. He even won a penalty in the dying embers of the game that Fede Valverde was unable to convert.
García followed up that performance with an assist against Pachuca to make it 2-0. After two consecutive clean sheets in the following two games, he got his well deserved goal against Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals. At the end of the game he was awarded the Superior Player of the Match award.
Performing at Vallecas
This is the Fran García Madridista’s watched at Rayo Vallecano.
Many La Liga observers, including myself, expected Real Madrid to receive a dynamic wing back who excels on the attack when the club activated his buyback clause in July 2023.
The season prior, García played in all 38 La Liga matches for Rayo. He assisted three goals and scored twice including a game winner against Barcelona. His performances earned him a call up to the Spanish national team that summer where he went on to win the UEFA Nations League.
Rough Start
While García’s goals and assists improved at Real Madrid, he was not playing well. During the 2023-24 season, the wing back appeared in just 31 matches.
Before the Club World Cup, García played in 48 games. Although this appears to be an improvement, Carlo Ancelotti’s hand was forced due to all of the injuries. García played because he had to, not because his performances warranted it.
Inform García
Now, Madridista’s can’t help but praise the La Fábrica graduate. These five matches have effectively revived his career as a Real Madrid player. Xabi Alonso saved García’s Real Madrid career.
He doesn’t look nervous anymore. García is playing with freedom and enjoying his football. Witnessing a player regain confidence and perform week in and week out is a beautiful thing to see.
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