Real Madrid have signalled roster continuity: Álvaro Carreras will remain in José Mourinho’s plans for the 2026 season and compete with Marc Cucurella for the left-back role, while Fran García appears increasingly likely to depart amid strong external interest. The club’s early summer defensive rebuild — three of four incoming signings were defenders — is reshaping opportunities and stakes ahead of preseason.
Álvaro Carreras to stay and fight for left-back role at Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s summer activity has already shifted the squad dynamic, but Álvaro Carreras is expected to remain at the club and compete for minutes under José Mourinho. After joining last year, Carreras faced uncertainty amid heavy recruitment on the left flank, yet the coaching staff view him as a complementary option to Marc Cucurella rather than redundant.
Carreras offers a more direct, progressive-running profile compared with Cucurella’s positional discipline. Mourinho appears to value that tactical contrast, envisioning both players rotating based on game plan and opposition.
Why Carreras matters
Keeping Carreras preserves depth across competitions — LaLiga and the Champions League — and protects the club against injuries or loss of form. For Carreras personally, the coming weeks are a reset: a targeted preseason could restore the form he showed under Xabi Alonso earlier in the previous season.
Maintaining Carreras also signals Mourinho’s preference for competition within the squad. That internal rivalry can raise standards if managed correctly, but it also increases pressure on players to produce consistent output during friendly and competitive minutes.
Fran García’s future looks increasingly like an exit
Fran García, who closed last season strongly and commanded market interest, appears the likelier departure among the two left-backs. Real Betis are among the clubs reportedly monitoring him, and García’s recent form has made him an attractive option for teams seeking an attacking left-back with LaLiga experience.
For Real Madrid, García represents a sellable asset who could generate transfer revenue while freeing minutes for the newly signed defenders and the incumbent pair of Cucurella and Carreras.
What a departure would mean for all parties
If García moves on, Real Madrid will trim a crowded left-back depth chart and generate wage and roster flexibility. For García, a transfer to a club like Real Betis would likely guarantee more regular starts and continuity. For the coaching staff, it simplifies rotation choices, allowing clearer pathways for game plans that demand either Cucurella’s structure or Carreras’ dynamism.
Context: Real Madrid’s defensive overhaul
The club’s early transfer strategy — four arrivals with three defenders — has intensified the battle for minutes across the backline. This pre-window activity is a clear sign Mourinho and the sporting directors want defensive options tailored to tactical variety.
Bringing in multiple defenders creates advantages: competition, tactical flexibility, and cover for long domestic and continental campaigns. But it also forces difficult squad-management decisions and potential exits for players with limited projected minutes.
Preseason is pivotal
How Carreras and Cucurella perform in preseason training and friendlies will shape Mourinho’s selections when competitive fixtures begin. Carreras is reportedly balancing rest with targeted conditioning to enter preseason in peak shape — a pragmatic approach after missing the World Cup and seeking to impress the coaching staff.
For García, the timing of any transfer will hinge on offers and Madrid’s final roster choices. The club’s willingness to move him would reflect a clear hierarchy at left-back for the coming season.
What to watch next
Monitor these indicators over the coming weeks:
- Preseason minutes and match roles for Carreras and Cucurella.
- Formal transfer activity around Fran García and whether Real Betis or other suitors make concrete bids.
- How new defensive signings are integrated and whether Mourinho adjusts the left-back responsibilities in different tactical setups.
This summer’s reshuffle could ultimately strengthen Real Madrid’s defensive options — provided Mourinho manages rotation and player morale effectively.
Carreras staying signals faith in his ability to contribute; García’s likely exit would be a pragmatic response to roster congestion and market demand.
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