Few footballers can say they have worn the shirts of both Real Madrid and Benfica, but Javi Garcia belongs to that select group.
Like Angel Di Maria and Ezequiel Garay, the former defensive midfielder built an important chapter of his career at both European giants.
A product of La Fabrica, Real Madrid’s youth academy, Garcia spent four seasons with the senior side, making just over 30 appearances before moving to Benfica in 2009.
In an interview with MARCA, Garcia looked back on his early years, his debut with the first team, and the influence of a teammate who would later become a coach: Alvaro Arbeloa.
Reflecting on his formative years at Castilla, Garcia spoke with clear affection about a period that shaped him both as a player and as a person. He recalled:
“My time at Castilla was spectacular. When I get together with my teammates from back then, I always say that those were perhaps the last years in which I enjoyed football as much as I did when I was a kid.
“We had an impressive team and a spectacular group of people.”
First-team debut
Garcia also revisited the moment he made his first-team debut for Real Madrid, which came in the Copa del Rey against Leganes.
The occasion, he explained, carried its own pressures and lessons.
“If I remember correctly, we won 2-1. The match didn’t go as we would have liked, because Cup matches are special. At that time, Real Madrid was Zidane and Pavon’s team.
“They commanded a lot of respect, but at the same time, we had the opportunity to learn from the best every day.”
Javi Garcia left Real Madrid in 2009. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Among the teammates Garcia shared the pitch with most often was Arbeloa, with the pair playing more than 50 matches together across different stages of their youth careers.
Looking back, Garcia highlighted Arbeloa’s leadership qualities long before coaching was even discussed.
“We played together for two years [in the youth system], the year we got promoted and another in the Second Division, so it would be almost 60 games.
“He was our captain, not because he was one of the oldest, but because he was a leader. He always found a way to motivate the group.
“I’ll never forget a promotion match against Conquense at home: two or three hours before the game, he took the whiteboard and wrote an impressive message for us to see when we came in, and it was a tremendous boost.
“If I had to highlight something about Álvaro as a player, it would be his personality and intelligence on the field. I’m sure that hasn’t changed and will now come through as a coach.”
Praise for Arbeloa
Asked whether he ever imagined Arbeloa becoming a coach, Garcia admitted that the idea only made sense with hindsight.
“At that time, we were kids and it seemed very far off. We didn’t think about it. But over time, you remember things and you could see it.
He went on to explain the improvement Real Madrid have shown under Arbeloa’s command, stating,
“Alvaro is very intelligent. He knows perfectly well what he’s doing. He’s a very level-headed person, and the only thing that interests him is winning titles and succeeding at Real Madrid.
“We’re already seeing changes, especially in the players’ attitude. In the last match against Villarreal, I saw a team that wanted to play, to have the ball, to defend, that played with pleasure.
“That change is due to Alvaro, and after that match, I sincerely believe things are going to work out,” he said.
