Javi García

Francisco Javier García Fernández, known as Javi García (born February 8, 1987 in Murcia), is a Spain footballer. He plays as a defensive midfielder for La Liga club Real Madrid, and can also be used as a central defender. He is the cousin of Atlético Madrid's Luis Javier García Sanz.

Football career

A product of Real Madrid's youth system, García played three La Liga contests with the first team, debuting aged 17 in a 5-0 home rout of Levante UD, on November 28, 2004. After that, he would spend the entire 2005-06 with Real Madrid Castilla, the B-side.

Summer 2006 was a very busy one for García. First he won the 2006 European Under-19 Football Championship with the U-19 Spanish squad, impressing then-first team head coach Fabio Capello, who recalled him to training sessions. García played in most of Real Madrid's pre-season games, including a starting lineup spot in both Ramón de Carranza Trophy games, playing in central midfield alongside new purchase Émerson Ferreira da Rosa. He would not appear for Real's first team in 2006-07, nonetheless.

In August 2007, in the La Liga 2007-08 of his supposed definitive promotion to the first team, coach Bernd Schuster would eventually prevent that golden opportunity (as fellow cantera players Rubén de la Red and Esteban Granero also left the club) and offers began to appear, from clubs in the Premier League including Liverpool F.C, and national sides, including Atlético Madrid and Deportivo La Coruña. He would finally settle for CA Osasuna on August 31, signing for four seasons for a fee of €2.5m, as the Navarra side was keen to replace injury-struck midfielder Javad Nekounam (out of action for six months at least).

García's contract included a buy-back clause that could see him return to Real Madrid for €4m. Osasuna officially reported, on April 29, 2008, that Madrid had exercised their purchase option, meaning his return to the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu for La Liga 2008–09.He made his first league appearance for Real since his return during his side's 7-1 thrashing of Sporting de Gijón in on September 24, 2008, coming on as a second half substitute for Mahamadou Diarra.

Honours

- Real Madrid:
- - Supercopa de España: 2008 Supercopa de España

- Real Madrid Castilla:
- - Segunda División B: 2004-05

- Spain national football team:
- - UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship