According to a report from AS, it has been learned that once Real Madrid are finalising the signing of Alvaro Carreras from Benfica, either Fran Garcia or Ferland Mendy will be placed on the transfer list.
The outlet mentions that with three players competing for the same position, a departure is inevitable.
While Carreras’ transfer has grown more complex in recent days, mainly due to Benfica insisting on the full €50 million release clause, sources inside the club believe the move is only a matter of time.
Real Madrid are trying to negotiate a lower price, but the outcome seems inevitable that once Carreras arrives, someone has to leave.
Ferland Mendy, who has struggled with injuries and is now 30, has a contract until 2027.
The club is open to letting him go, though no official offer has landed on the table yet. His inconsistent fitness record and age may complicate a profitable exit.
Garcia, on the other hand, is only 25, has a clean injury record, and still holds promise. The Spaniard has attracted interest from clubs like Bournemouth, who are closely monitoring his situation.
His future remains uncertain, as La Liga clubs are also circling, but he has a golden opportunity in the Club World Cup, especially with Carreras yet to join.
Garcia is expected to start for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup. It is a chance not only to prove himself to new manager Xabi Alonso, who had previously wanted him at Bayer Leverkusen, but also to catch the eye of potential suitors.
Alonso’s preference for dynamic, attacking full-backs could play in Garcia’s favour, especially if he can rediscover the form that made him a standout player in the past.
In the end, once Carreras joins, there won’t be room for three left-backs. Real Madrid will have to choose between youth and experience, reliability and raw potential—between Mendy and Garcia.