Fran Garcia was one of Real Madrid’s standout performers in the FIFA Club World Cup when Xabi Alonso trusted him as a starter given the lack of options he was faced with.
The left-back started six games for Real Madrid in the USA, racking up one goal and an assist in addition to defensively solid performances.
Alvaro Carreras’ arrival, however, has turned the tables for him and taken him from being a regular starter in the previous event to not having any presence in Real Madrid’s first three La Liga games. AS provide an update on his situation.
Willing to fight
As relayed by the Spanish outlet, Garcia refuses to stop fighting after not seeing any minutes in Real Madrid’s opening games, and Xabi Alonso is aware of the player’s perseverance.
The Spaniard is calm and is not anxious over his situation. Instead, he understands the competition that has arrived and is working harder than ever before in training to leave his mark on the manager.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JULY 05: Fran Garcia #20 of Real Madrid C. F. celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-final match between Real Madrid CF and Borussia Dortmund at MetLife Stadium on July 05, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Fran Garcia ready to fight for his place. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
At some point, Garcia knows that displacing Carreras as the starter is impossible, but he is motivated to stay ahead of Ferland Mendy on the manager’s pecking order and thus stay in the loop when the unavoidable rotations come into play from Alonso.
Mendy has always been ahead of Garcia on the pecking order, but his fitness struggles in recent times coupled with the Spanish star’s excellent performances at the Club World Cup have done enough to change that order.
Through meticulous training and patience, Garcia hopes to see more minutes for Real Madrid as the season progresses and is working hard towards the same.
With Alonso reportedly set to rotate massively against Real Sociedad, he could well have his first minutes of the season after the international break.