Francisco Javier García

Football player infobox
playername = Javi García


fullname = Francisco Javier García Fernández
height = height|meter=1.86
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|2|8
cityofbirth = Murcia
countryofbirth = Spain
currentclub = Real Madrid
clubnumber = 24
position = Defensive midfielder/centre back
years = 2004–2007
2004
2007–2008
2008–present
clubs = Real Madrid Castilla
Real Madrid
Osasuna
Real Madrid
caps(goals) = 85 (9)
3 (0)
25 (2)
2 (0)
nationalyears = 2004–2006
2006–
nationalteam = Spain U19
Spain U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 11 (0) 1 (0)
pcupdate = May 20, 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = September 5, 2006 (UTC)

Francisco Javier García Fernández, known as Javi García (born February 8, 1987 in Murcia), is a Spanish 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 Garcia.

Football career

A product of Real Madrid's youth system, García played three league 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 European 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. He would not appear for Real's first team in 2006-07, nonetheless.

In August 2007, in the the season 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 Premiership 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 Bernabéu for 2008-09. [ [http://www.osasuna.es/dev/actualidad/ultimasnoticias/el-real-madrid-recompra-a-javi-garcia Real Madrid rebuys Javi García] es icon] 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:
**Spanish Supercup: 2008

*Real Madrid Castilla:
**Second Division B: 2004-05

*Spain:
**UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: 2006

References

External links

* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=7471 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon