Real Madrid’s new fullback: hopefully I’ll have a career like Carvajal! I have a lot of respect for Marcelo and Roberto Carlos, they taught me a lot

Big homecoming. The Real Madrid graduate grew so much in his three years at Rayo Vallecano that Los Blancos decided to buy him back. Dani Carvajal has followed a similar path.

After Fran García came out of Real Madrid’s academy, he went on loan to second division side Rayo Vallecano. In the modest team from the south of Madrid, he immediately got into the starting line-up, played 41 games and helped them to promotion to La Liga with a 1+3 record.

He was so popular at Rayo that they bought him out after the season, with Real retaining the €5 million buy-back. Fran had already put in decent performances last season, but this past season he had the breakthrough year of his life.

He played all 38 games, recorded a 2+3 record, and was one of La Liga’s highest rated full backs, if not the best. Thus, Real Madrid already activated a buy-back clause in the winter with the expectation that García would join Carlo Ancelotti’s team in the summer.

Now that day has come and the Real Madrid offspring was introduced back to the Santiago Bernabéu on Monday morning. As a youngster, he still had the chance to experience two of Real’s great icons at left-back, Marcelo and Roberto Carlos.

“When I was training with the A’s back then, I met Marcel and I have great admiration for him because he gave me a helping hand. I have a special affection for Roberto Carlos because I learned a lot from him in my first year at Castilla,” García told a press conference.

Daniel Carvajal went through a similar process to García a few years ago. The academy graduate transferred to Bayer Leverkusen in 2012 and did so well that Real bought him back immediately after one season. After that, he became a key player and hasn’t let anyone else go at right-back until now.

“Of course I would like to have a path like Carvajal, he is such a mirror for all young players. I wish I had a career like his! I’m coming with the goal of becoming a great player,” the 23-year-old defender said.

Source: Real Madrid