Fran Garcia explains Real Madrid exit decision ahead of Real Betis reunion – “I wanted to leave”

Fran Garcia explains Real Madrid exit decision ahead of Real Betis reunion – “I wanted to leave” On Friday, Real Madrid will take on Real Betis in their fourth match of the 2026-27 season, and it will be an occasion for several reunions. Isco will come up against his former club once again, but it could be a first experience for Fran Garcia and Dabi Ceballos, both of whom swapped the Bernabeu for La Cartuja during the summer. Garcia was the first to make the move, as he joined Betis in a €4m deal that was completed in early July. The 27-year-old has enjoyed a strong start to his Betis career, and as per Diario AS , he has now opened up on the decision to leave Real Madrid in the summer. He admitted that he was not content with just being at the club, with his plan being to always be a starter wherever he is. “I wanted to leave Real Madrid to have more prominence. Although my average number of games there had not been bad at all, I intended to have another role. And at Betis everything is going very easy: the teammates, the staff, the people at the club… from the first moment they have helped me to adapt to a new city. You have to take into account that I had been in Madrid for 13 years in a row, without leaving there. “It is the best club in the world but the decision, in itself, was made last season. I have been happy there, I have played, I have won titles that you have dreamed of since I was a child… But I needed something else. I’m not a conformist guy, rather I demand too much of myself. I want to give my best version, continue growing, compete to be the starter. I had a contract and I could continue at Madrid but Betis were ideal to continue my career. Here I knew Manu Fajardo, Isco or others like Álvaro Fidalgo. Everyone told me incredible things about Betis and that gives you strength when it comes to making a decision.” Garcia: Cucurella arrival created further doubts Garcia also admitted that Real Madrid’s decision to sign Marc Cucurella was effectively the final straw for him to make the decision to leave. “I’ve had very good streaks of competing, of being at a good level and feeling good. They sign Álvaro (Carreras) and I even finish the season playing important games, but that’s the feeling… And already this year when Cucurella gives rise to the case, I say to myself: we have four left-backs, I don’t know if I’m going to be able (to play). Because Ferland (Mendy) is injured but returns at the end of the year. And besides, €50m have been spent on one (Carreras) and €60m on the other (Cucurella). I understand that the priority is going to be those players.” He also gave his thoughts on Jose Mourinho, whom he coincided with very briefly before his move to Betis. The defender sees the Portuguese as the perfect man to turn things around at Real Madrid after two poor seasons. “I think there was no better replacement, he’s ideal. Last season was atypical, there was too much commotion. If anyone can channel Real Madrid, the dressing room, the relationship with the people and above all coming from the hand of results, it is Mourinho.”