Real Madrid 'one step away' from bargain Fran Garcia transfer

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 26 Jan 2023 12:01 GMT
• 5 min read

Real Madrid are closing in on their first signing of the January transfer window, with Rayo Vallecano left-back Fran Garcia set to join the club for a €10 million fee.

AS reports that the 23-year-old is just “one step away” from re-signing the player who they sold to Rayo in 2021 for €2m.

It is stated that Los Blancos are ready to loan the defender immediately back to their La Liga rivals and will instead join up at the Bernabeu once again in the summer.

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Real Madrid retain a transfer option in the player’s contract when he was definitively sold to Rayo in 2021. Carlo Ancelotti’s side retained 50% of the rights of the player as they signed him to a contract that runs until 2025, and though there was concrete interest from Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, Madrid were able to match their €10m offer and secure the player’s services once again.

Bild has confirmed that Madrid have exercised a first refusal option for Fran Garcia have beaten Bayer to the player.

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Serie A outfit Inter were also interested in the player and had launched an “important offer” for him, according to Spanish reports.

Once all the bids were on the table, Fran Garcia told his agents to give priority to the one from Real Madrid, where there is a desire to see more Spanish players in the team.

Real Madrid signing a €30m player for €10m

For Los Blancos, this deal represents a clear bargain, too. Not only have they captured a capable player, but they have done so at an excellent price.

At €10m, Real Madrid are paying well below FootballTransfers’ valuation of the player, which stands at €29.8m. Moreover, his valuation has been steadily climbing over the last three years and is currently at a career-high thanks to his excellent performances.

Fran Garcia has played 18 times in La Liga for Rayo Vallecano this season and has supplied two assists for the club in that time.