Real Madrid left back Fran García wants to play more and was denied a move to Bournemouth in January
Real Madrid left back Fran García is feeling frustrated with his situation under new boss Álvaro Arbeloa, having seen his playing time reduced and an exit blocked.
The 26-year-old defender has barely featured since Arbeloa replaced Xabi Alonso as head coach and was keen on moving elsewhere in the winter transfer window.
Having featured in 17 of the 34 games that Xabi Alonso was in charge for, Garcia hasn’t played a single minute in the five LaLiga and Champions League games under Arbeloa. His only appearance came in Arbeloa’s first match in charge: the Copa del Rey defeat at the hands of second-tier Albacete.
According to Cadena Cope, the Spaniard wanted to leave the club last month and was particularly keen on an offer to link up with his old Rayo Vallecano boss at Bournemouth. Andoni Iraola knows García’s qualities well, but the move was swiftly blocked by Arbeloa.
Fran García feels let down by Arbeloa
According to multiple reports, García was enthused by this prospective switch to Bournemouth in late January, believing it would give him the platform for consistent first‑team action.
He was said to have prepared mentally for the move before being informed that Real Madrid would not sanction it.
That disappointment appears to have translated into frustration in training, with some outlets reporting García asked to train alone for a period rather than integrate with the rest of the squad following the collapse of the deal. While the club declined the request, the gesture reflected his unhappiness at the situation.
At 26 years old, García remains in a crucial phase of his development curve, having enjoyed regular football during his loan stint at Rayo Vallecano where he became a key member of the team. The contrast with his current role under Arbeloa has, therefore, been stark.
Arbeloa prefers to play Camavinga out of position than García
When Los Blancos welcomed city rivals Rayo Vallecano to the Bernabéu on Sunday, the optics of García’s situation were clear and damning.
The defender remained an unused sub against his former side, watching on as midfielder Eduardo Camavinga was asked to put in a shift at left back and not for the first time.
García already has Álvaro Carreras and Ferland Mendy ahead of him in the pecking order, but their unreliable availability gave him the opportunity to be involved regularly under Alonso. Not so under Arbeloa, who has looked for different solutions.
If things don’t change soon for the two-time Spain international, it should be expected that a summer move could be looming on the horizon.
Arbeloa was reluctant to weaken his squad in January, but García cannot be expected to be happy if he remains fourth-choice, especially given his regular involvement since returning from Rayo as one of the standouts in the league, albeit mostly as a backup.
García’s current contract expires in the summer of 2027, so the coming months are likely to be crucial in determining his Real Madrid future.
As an academy graduate, the club are reluctant to let him go, but it seems that the player, who has always been considered a consummate professional, is running out of patience.