La Liga club interested in signing Real Madrid out-of-favour defender – report | OneFootball

Jose Mourinho has come to Real Madrid with the outlook of a man who wants to revamp the squad’s entire defensive set-up.

This has been visible in the kind of players Los Blancos have signed so far, most of whom have been defenders, with the exception of Bernardo Silva.

Making so many signings in one area of the field, though, is likely to also necessitate sales, and Real Madrid may have an important decision to make on Fran Garcia this summer.

According to AS, Real Betis view Fran Garcia as one of the names they like for their left side, although no definitive move has been made at this stage.

A crowded left-back picture at Madrid

The situation is easy to understand from a Real Madrid perspective. Marc Cucurella is arriving from Chelsea, while Alvaro Carreras is also expected to continue, leaving Fran with a much tougher route to regular football.

Real Betis want Fran Garcia. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

That does not mean Real Madrid should treat him as expendable at any price. Garcia is 26, has experience at the highest level and still offers energy, speed and natural width from the left.

Even if he has not always found consistency, that has also been shaped by strong competition and limited rhythm.

Real Betis are looking for a more reliable solution after struggling to fully settle the position since Alex Moreno left.

Ricardo Rodriguez is out of contract, while Junior Firpo’s return did not meet expectations. In that context, Garcia makes sense for them.

Why Real Madrid hold the stronger hand

This is exactly why Real Madrid should be firm. Betis are not looking at a luxury signing, they are looking at a player who could become important in Manuel Pellegrini’s plans.

If Fran leaves, the club should make sure the fee reflects his age, La Liga experience and usefulness to another ambitious side.

What does the future hold for Fran Garcia? (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

There is also a sporting point. A squad as demanding as Real Madrid’s needs depth, and the club should only move Fran on if the left-back plan is genuinely secure.

Injuries, dips in form and fixture congestion can quickly make a backup look valuable again.

A sensible exit, but only on Real Madrid’s terms

For Garcia, Betis could offer something Real Madrid perhaps cannot promise right now: a central role and regular minutes. That matters for a player entering an important stage of his career.

His time at the Spanish capital club has mostly been marked by criticism, and even the few good performances here and there tend to be forgotten in the larger picture.

Cucurella’s arrival means the senior Spaniard is likely to nail down that spot on the left flank, and minutes could be hard to come by for Fran.

Amid Betis’ interest, Real Madrid are right to be considering a sale, but it remains to be seen whether they hold out to get good value from it.