Fran Garcia is now very unlikely to join Premier League high-flyers Newcastle United with The Athletic reporting that La Liga champions Real Madrid are ‘close’ to triggering the £8.8 million buy-back clause in the Spaniard’s contract.
Most managers would chomp your hand clean off at the bone for the left-back options at Carlo Ancelotti’s disposal. In Ferland Mendy, the Real Madrid boss has arguably Europe’s most underrated left-sided defender. The uber-versatile David Alaba too.
Nacho Fernandez and Eduardo Camavinga also are more than capable of filling in on the left-hand side, if required. Fran Garcia’s imminent return to the Spanish capital, then, promises to give Ancelotti even more cover in a position of existing strength.
“He’s a player who came through the youth academy,” the four-time Champions League winner said of Garcia ahead of Thursday’s Copa del Rey clash between Real and Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“We’re assessing him.”
Newcastle target Fran Garcia is close to joining La Liga champions Real Madrid
According to The Athletic, the reigning European champions are on the verge of bringing the Spain U21 international back to familiar surroundings; triggering the £8.8 million buy-back clause in Garcia’s Rayo Vallecano contract.
Garcia, a technical and attack-minded left-back, has two assists in 20 La Liga games this season for free-flowing Rayo. One of those came during a thrilling 3-2 defeat to his past and future employers before the World Cup break.
According to the Daily Mail, Garcia had played his way onto Newcastle’s radar too; the Magpies scouring the market for the next generation of superstar full-backs. Real Valladolid’s 18-year-old sensation Ivan Fresneda is another with admirers at St James’ Park.
“I think so. Fresneda will be sold,” admits Valladolid coach Pacheta.
“Ivan is 18 and does things (more like a) 30-year-old. I would have no doubts (about signing him). If I put myself in the shoes of another coach who needs a right-back, I’m betting on Fresneda.
“If I watch the match against Real Madrid (in December), I see a fantastic player to buy. Today, we are inundated with statistics, and Fresneda’s are crazy. All these characteristics make me doubt my ability to keep him here.
“I would like to, but I know the needs of the club.”
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