Madrid slam door shut on Fran García's Bournemouth move
Real Madrid reject Andoni Iraola's last-minute approach for left-back Fran García despite the player's limited minutes under Arbeloa.
Real Madrid have blocked Fran García’s potential move to Bournemouth as the transfer window slams shut, despite the player’s willingness to seek more playing time elsewhere.
Iraola reunion denied
The Cherries’ Spanish gaffer Andoni Iraola was proper keen to bring his former Rayo Vallecano protégé to the Premier League before the deadline. The two had a brilliant relationship during their time together in Madrid’s suburbs, with Iraola helping García develop into the player that convinced Los Blancos to exercise their buyback option.
But Real Madrid have put their foot down, refusing to sanction the departure despite García’s current peripheral status in the squad.
Limited minutes at the Bernabéu
It’s not hard to see why Fran might’ve fancied a change of scenery:
- He’s fallen behind Ferland Mendy in the pecking order
- Recently overlooked in favor of makeshift left-back Eduardo Camavinga
- Has played just 78 minutes under Raúl Arbeloa across two matches:
- 65 minutes vs Albacete in Copa del Rey
- 13 minutes in the 6-1 thrashing of Monaco
No ins, no outs
Madrid’s stance has been crystal clear throughout January - they won’t be bringing anyone in, but they’re equally adamant about keeping their squad intact for the business end of the season.
The potential move was first reported by COPE, but the Bernabéu brass weren’t having any of it. Despite García not featuring at all against Levante, Villarreal, Rayo Vallecano and Benfica, the club still views him as an important squad option.
This decision leaves García in a bit of a pickle, stuck in Madrid with limited prospects for regular football, while Iraola will need to look elsewhere if he wants to strengthen Bournemouth’s left flank before the window closes.