Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Fran Garcia will be re-joining the capital giants when this summer's transfer window opens for business.
The 23-year-old has been in impressive form for Rayo Vallecano during the 2022-23 campaign, featuring on 38 occasions in all competitions, scoring twice and providing three assists in the process.
The Spaniard played the full 90 minutes of Rayo's 2-1 loss at Bernabeu in La Liga on Wednesday evening, and he will now only play a maximum of two more games for his current side, with Garcia preparing to return to Real Madrid this summer after two years away from the club.
"He's a left-back with real energy and he's so quick with the ball. He plays out very well and he's got great attributes for us. He'll be with us next year," Ancelotti told reporters in his post-game press conference.
The defender came through the youth system at Los Blancos but largely represented their B side between 2018 and 2020, making just one first-team appearance for the club.
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A strong loan spell at Rayo during the 2020-21 campaign led to him joining the capital outfit on a permanent basis in the summer of 2021, and he has now featured on 120 occasions for the club in all competitions.
A recent report claimed that Real Madrid have triggered a buy-back clause of €10m (£8.7m), which was included in his sale to Rayo.
However, Real Madrid will allegedly only need to pay €5m (£4.4m) due to a 50% sell-on clause, and Garcia is set to become the club's first signing of the summer transfer window.
"The match against Real Madrid is special for me? I know the feeling I've always had for Real Madrid and that doesn't change. Of course, it's a special match," the defender said ahead of Wednesday's game at Bernabeu.
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The left-back's arrival is likely to lead to more speculation surrounding Ferland Mendy, with the Frenchman being strongly linked with a move away from the Spanish capital.
Mendy, who has struggled with injury problems this season, has recently been linked with a move to Arsenal, while a number of other Premier League clubs are believed to be monitoring his situation.
Eduardo Camavinga has often featured as a left-back for Real Madrid this season, but Ancelotti is believed to be keen to use the Frenchman primarily as a midfielder next term.
Liverpool's Andrew Robertson is also being linked with a switch to Bernabeu, as Nacho is out of contract at Bernabeu this summer, so two new left-sided full-backs could potentially arrive.
Real Madrid are also expected to complete a big-money move for Jude Bellingham this summer, with the England international set to make the move to the Spanish capital from Borussia Dortmund.
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