With the Xabi Alonso era well and truly underway at Real Madrid, we are seeing a number of long overdue changes within the squad, many of which fans have been calling for for a long time now.
The most drastic change is a complete overhaul of the defense. After leaking in goals for fun for the past few seasons, the new regime has decided enough is enough and have brought in
Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Alvaro Carreras to be the building blocks of Xabi Alonso's new backline.
We got a taste of Huijsen and Trent in the Club World Cup, but we have yet to see Carreras play with the first team squad. Nevertheless, the club still trusts the 22-year-old to be the left-back for Real Madrid's new generation.
A Real Madrid player who is now surplus to requirements
However, his arrival now means there is an overload at left-back, with three currently being in the first team squad, Carreras, Ferland Mendy, and Fran Garcia. Having three left-backs doesn't make sense from the club's perspective, and the new manager has made up his mind when it comes to which player has to leave the club.
As reported by AS, Xabi Alonso had made the decision to keep Fran Garcia, signalling that Ferland Mendy's time at the club is close to coming to an end. Despite signing a three-year extension a few months ago, the club is urging him to find a new club this summer.
Xabi Alonso's decision to keep Fran Garcia makes sense in the broad picture. Mendy is five years older than Garcia and struggles with injuries far more often than the Spaniard, which limits his availability across the long season.
Whether or not Real Madrid will be able to find a new club for Mendy before the transfer window closes remains to be seen, but it would be in the best interest of both the player and the club to part ways this summer.