Real Madrid defender 'attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund'

Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund could reportedly offer one of Real Madrid's unwanted defenders an escape route from the Bernabeu.

Left-back Fran Garcia learned his trade in the Blancos' Castilla setup from 2015 to 2021, but he failed to make the breakthrough into the first team and was sold to Rayo Vallecano for just €2m (£1.7m) in 2021.

Following a successful two-year stint with Real's La Liga counterparts, though, Garcia returned to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2023, after Los Blancos triggered his €5m (£4.3m) release clause.

Garcia has appeared on 28 occasions in all competitions for Carlo Ancelotti's side in the current campaign, registering five assists, while he has also earned his first two senior caps for Spain since rejoining Los Blancos.

However, the 24-year-old is below Ferland Mendy in the left-back pecking order in Madrid and has only started 12 matches in the 2023-24 La Liga season, in addition to a paltry two Champions League games.

Furthermore, since Real Madrid's progression from the group stage, Garcia has not earned any minutes in Los Blancos' four knockout matches with RB Leipzig and Manchester City en route to a semi-final showdown with Bayern Munich.

Despite earning a start in last Friday's La Liga win over Real Sociedad with Mendy rested, Garcia is expected to cede his place to the returning Frenchman on Tuesday, as Ancelotti's men head to the Allianz Arena for the first leg.

With Real Madrid also out to strengthen their left-back ranks either this summer or the next, Garcia could soon be heading for the exit door, in spite of his long-running contract until the summer of 2027.

According to Fichajes, Dortmund have now emerged as contenders to sign the