The match against Getafe left Real Madrid with two important absences ahead of the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona. Alaba had to be substituted at half-time due to discomfort and Camavinga left the team with ten men in the last five minutes of injury time due to a groin injury, when Ancelotti had already used up all his substitutions. Added to these three absences are doubts over Mendy, which means that Fran García is likely to start in this weekend’s final.
Fran García and Real Madrid
In his second season with Real Madrid, Fran García has not been able to convince the coaching staff, the board, or the fans. The player cannot be faulted for his commitment, but his performance has been well below expectations this season.
We are talking about a very powerful player, with a lot of strength and potential in attack, but who has not been able to show that at Real Madrid. He has also failed to perform at the required level defensively, which has led Ancelotti, given Mendy’s inconsistent season due to continuous injuries, to opt for Camavinga (when he has been fit) and Alaba, who is also far from his best but enjoys more confidence from Carletto.
Last chance for Fran García
But Fran García could get his last big chance on Saturday, an opportunity he did not expect, but one that has been handed to him by the team’s injuries. Although Mendy has not been ruled out of the decisive match, it is unlikely that he will be able to perform at the level required to face the match with any guarantees.
The threat of Lamine Yamal coming in on the left side of the defense is one of the biggest dangers Ancelotti faces this weekend, and Fran García should be the one to stop him. If he manages to do so, if he manages to have a great final and, more importantly, if Real Madrid manages to win a title that many already consider lost, his future at the club could take a 180-degree turn.
Fran García and his future
Real Madrid seem to have made it clear that they are not counting on Fran García for next season, but they know that letting him go will not be an easy task. The player is under contract and it will be difficult for him to accept a move given his salary at Real Madrid (a common problem for big clubs when they want to offload a player). Furthermore, the market does not offer many alternatives that would represent a tangible improvement to the squad.
Real Madrid’s bet was on Anthony Davies, but his renewal with Bayern Munich and his subsequent knee ligament injury rule him out. Although Real Madrid is closely following other players in this position, there is a risk of accumulating many players in the same position without any of them, as we have said, offering a significant improvement to the current squad.
But Fran García is going to give it his all to convince them, there is no doubt about that. The player from La Mancha has been given a new opportunity, perhaps his last, to prove that he can have a place at Real Madrid next season. This Saturday, they face a tough challenge, surely the most difficult of his career given the match, the quality of the opponent, and the quality of the player he will have to stop, Lamine Yamal. If he succeeds and Real Madrid wins the title, he could regain the confidence he has now lost.