Fran García has made an immediate impact at Real Betis after leaving Real Madrid, but his eyes remain firmly fixed on his former club’s future. In a wide-ranging interview, the left-back explained why he walked away from the world’s biggest club, backed José Mourinho to take over from Carlo Ancelotti, and heaped praise on Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior.

García signed with Real Betis through 2030 this summer, yet Real Madrid cleverly retained a 50 percent stake in any future transfer. The Spanish full-back spent 13 years in the Spanish capital between Real Madrid Castilla, the first team, and a loan spell at Rayo Vallecano. He leaves the Bernabéu after making more than 100 official appearances for the senior side, with LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and European titles to his name.

Now, after stepping outside his comfort zone for the first time in more than a decade, García has already made himself indispensable at Betis. Just two games into his new adventure, he set up Pablo García’s late winner against Valencia at Mestalla. The transition, he says, has been seamless.

Why Fran García left Real Madrid

“I left Real Madrid because I wanted a bigger role,” García said. “My number of games there wasn’t bad at all, but I wanted something different. At Betis, everything has made the transition easy. My teammates, the coaching staff, and everyone at the club have helped me settle into a new city.”

The decision itself, however, was far from easy. “It’s the biggest club in the world, but I’d already made up my mind last season. I was happy there. I played, I won trophies you dream about as a kid. But I needed something different. I was happy at Real Madrid and won trophies, but I want to compete as the main guy.”

García says conversations with sporting director Manu Fajardo, Isco, and former teammate Álvaro Fidalgo convinced him Betis was the right next step in his career.

Why Cucurella’s arrival changed everything

One of the biggest factors behind García’s departure was Real Madrid’s increasingly crowded competition at left back. “I had good stretches where I was playing well, and even after Álvaro Carreras arrived I finished the season playing important games,” he explained. “But then the Cucurella situation came up, and I thought: there are four left backs here.”

With Ferland Mendy expected to return from injury later in the season and Real Madrid investing significantly in the position — around $58 million for one fullback and nearly $70 million for another — García understood where the club’s priorities lay. “I knew those players would be the priority,” he said.

Even after leaving, though, he still feels appreciated by his former club. “They wanted to keep a stake in my future, and they still own 50 percent of any future transfer fee. I came through the academy and then played more than 100 official games for the first team,” he added.

What matters most to him isn’t just soccer. “Being there for a teammate, listening when someone needs you, just being normal. That’s something elite soccer is losing,” García reflected.

The teammates who impressed him most

One of the first people to welcome García after his move was Isco, who texted him shortly after the transfer became official. “He told me he was here for whatever I needed,” García recalled.

When asked which players have impressed him most throughout his career, García immediately pointed to two former teammates. “Isco and Rodrygo are the two who have impressed me the most,” he said. The respect is mutual, as both have continued to perform at the highest level for club and country.

Why Mourinho is the perfect fit for Real Madrid

Although García never played under Mourinho, he believes the Portuguese coach is exactly what Real Madrid needs after last season’s turbulence. “I don’t think there was a better replacement,” he stated. “Last season was unusual. There was too much noise around the club.”

“If anyone can get Real Madrid back on track — the locker room, the relationship with the fans, and above all through results — it’s Mourinho,” García added. The former Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Manchester United boss has long been admired for his ability to build strong dressing-room bonds and deliver silverware under pressure.

García also sees similarities between Mourinho’s predecessor Carlo Ancelotti and current Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini. “They’re coaches who let you play and manage the locker room well. At a club like Real Madrid, with so many global stars, that’s the hardest part. I think Ancelotti did that very well, and Pellegrini has that same ability.”

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Source:AS USA News