Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of Newcastle United target Fran Garcia as Premier League rivals Arsenal look set to also miss out on Brahim Diaz to the Spanish giants.
While a new left-back is certainly near the top of Eddie Howe’s wishlist this summer, the chances of Fran Garcia ending up at St James’ Park have appeared pretty slim for a while now.
Rayo Vallecano indicated back in February that Garcia – who played his way onto Newcastle United’s radar during an excellent breakthrough season in La Liga – was likely to end up back at the club where he started his career in their Fabrica academy (Daily Mail).
And Real Madrid have now confirmed as such. The swashbuckling 23-year-old will be picking up where he left off when leaving Los Blancos for Vallecas back in 2021.
“Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano have agreed the transfer of Fran Garcia,” reads a statement on the Real website.
“(He) will be with the club for the next four seasons. On Monday 12 June, at 12:00pm, Fran Garcia will be unveiled as a new Real Madrid player.”
Disappointment for Real Madrid and Arsenal
Garcia scored twice and set up three more goals for Andoni Iraola’s surprise packages last term. He found the net against both Barcelona and Atletico.
He will move to the Santiago Bernabeu alongside another man set for a second stab at life in white.
Fabrizio Romano reports that the £25 million-rated Brahim Diaz has agreed a deal until the summer of 2027. He returns after three seasons at AC Milan. The former Manchester City starlet has been linked with a potential reunion with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal; the Gunners having brought Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus from the Etihad to the Emirates over the last 12 months (TuttoSport).
Diaz is instead bound for Madrid. And he will be looking to make a bigger impact in his second spell at Real than he did the first time round. The once-capped Spain international returns a more mature, well-rounded player, even if concerns remain about his end product from the number ten role.
“Understand the agreement is complete for Brahim Diaz,” Romano writes. “(Diaz will) sign a new long-term deal at Real Madrid until June 2027.
“Brahim is expected to be presented next week at the Bernabeu as new signing. Agreement set to be sealed.”
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