Earlier in the summer, it was widely reported that Real Madrid would want to get rid of Fran Garcia this summer after inconsistent performances at Santiago Bernabeu.
The club wanted to bring in an upgrade over both Garcia and Ferland Mendy, with Alvaro Carreras emerging as the ideal target.
But after Real Madrid failed to close the Carreras deal before the start of the FIFA Club World Cup, Garcia was called up as the only left-back for Real Madrid in the competition.
And as it stands, the Spaniard appears to have taken full advantage of his chances.
A recent report from MARCA has highlighted Garcia’s brilliant performances at the FIFA Club World Cup, even claiming that Real Madrid might be forced to alter their stance on the player.
Initially expected to be a stop-gap option, Garcia has gone from an overlooked squad member to a crucial figure in Xabi Alonso’s setup.
With Ferland Mendy injured and no signing completed for Carreras, the 24-year-old has quietly seized his opportunity.
Garcia’s match-winning display against Borussia Dortmund, which included a goal and an overall solid performance down the left flank, has not gone unnoticed. He was even named the MVP of the match.
Alonso is believed to be impressed with Garcia’s development, noting his improvement in confidence and attacking involvement.
His teammates, too, are reportedly beginning to trust him more on the ball, often looking to him when building attacks.
Although the final decision on Garcia’s future is expected only after the tournament, the tide seems to be turning in his favour and Real Madrid may now be considering keeping him at the club beyond the summer.