Milan are looking to Madrid for a replacement for Theo Hernandez. The deal with Real Madrid that brought the Frenchman to Milan was one of the most successful moves for the Rossoneri under Paolo Maldini’s leadership. Six seasons later, with Theo now at Saudi club Al-Hilal, AC Milan is again eyeing a player potentially on his way out of Los Blancos: Fran Garcia, Real Madrid’s left-footed defender. He’s spent the last two seasons as a backup in the squad where he grew up but has been a regular presence throughout Spain’s youth national teams.
Born in 1999, Fran Garcia is currently being evaluated by Milan, as confirmed by reports from Spain. The Milanese club has asked for information, believing the 26-year-old would be an ideal fit to fill the void left by Theo. The good relationship between the two clubs could help facilitate negotiations, though there haven’t yet been in-depth talks.
Real Madrid, for their part, are not in a rush to let Fran Garcia leave, especially after Mendy’s injury, despite the recent signing of Carreras from Benfica. The defender, however, would like to move from Madrid to Milan, where he’d have the opportunity to be a regular starter. Initial contacts between Milan and Los Merengues are expected in the coming hours, with Real valuing the 26-year-old at €20 million, as relayed via Calciomercato.com
Who is Fran Garcia?
Fran García joined Real Madrid’s youth academy when he was still a child, in the alevín category, and developed under the guidance of mentors such as Santiago Solari and Guti—two figures who shaped his time at La Fábrica. In an interview with Relevo, Garcia revealed that Solari taught him the value of silent hard work: “From Solari, I learned that it’s not just about playing well, but understanding that everyone’s work is essential for the team.” Guti, on the other hand, helped him refine his technical skills and cultivate his attacking instincts. The Madrid coach believed in him, promoting him from Juvenil B to Juvenil A. After a loan spell at Rayo Vallecano, he returned to the first team. Today, he is considered one of the fastest left-backs in the world, with a top speed of 34.6 km/h.
