Former Real Madrid and Benfica midfielder Javi García has given a wide-ranging interview to AS, reflecting on his years in Madrid’s academy, his development at Benfica, the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Vinicius–Prestianni incident, and the responsibility carried by Álvaro Arbeloa on the bench.
“Only the Best Make It to Real Madrid”
García began by looking back on his path from La Fábrica to the Real Madrid first team — a dream achieved, though not in the way he had once envisioned.
“Only the very best reach Real Madrid. In the youth system, my goal was to make it to the first team and succeed, which I did. But staying at Real Madrid and playing no more than 20 matches a season wasn’t enough for me. My father always said it was a blessing for players to experience different countries and leagues because of how enriching it is. I understood that. To come through the academy and truly succeed at Real Madrid, you must be exceptional. I will never complain about my time there; quite the opposite. My only regret is that I didn’t fully meet expectations.”
Benfica: “The Real Madrid of Portugal”
If Madrid was the dream, Benfica became the place where he truly found himself as a player.
“Yes, those were three wonderful years (at Benfica). I felt connected to the club from the first day. It’s like the Real Madrid of Portugal. I shared the pitch with players such as David Luiz, Di María, Aimar, Saviola, Coentrao, Cardoso and Witsel. I still go to the Estádio da Luz as a supporter to watch all of Benfica’s games, and I go with my daughters. All three of us are members, and we lived through the intense rivalry with Sporting Lisbon and Porto.”
Cristiano’s Advice: “Don’t Even Think About It”
One of the most striking moments of the interview was García’s memory of the summer he left Real Madrid — the same one Cristiano Ronaldo arrived.
“When I moved from Real Madrid to Benfica, it was the summer Cristiano signed. We were in preseason in Austria and I spent a couple of weeks with him. One morning, Portuguese newspapers said my future could be at Benfica. He came over to me at breakfast and asked if it was true. I thought, ‘What better adviser than Cristiano?’ and asked him, ‘Should I go or not, Cris?’ He didn’t even need words. With a gesture, he told me, ‘Javi, don’t even think about it.’ And he was right.”
Vinicius, Prestianni, and Racism: “They Should Be Punished”
García also addressed the recent controversy involving Vinicius Jr. and Prestianni — an incident that has overshadowed a major European fixture.
“We were all asking in the stadium what had happened between Vinicius and Prestianni. When you hear Vinicius’s complaints, you can imagine what kind of comments Prestianni may have made. It was a sensitive and complicated moment. I support Benfica, but if those comments were made, they must be punished, no matter who the player is. It’s a shame because now we’re talking about this instead of Wednesday’s match between two European giants. That’s really unfortunate. Authorities must make the decision they consider appropriate, but if racist remarks were made — which seems the most logical conclusion — then UEFA should take the necessary action.
“And not only in football. We’ve improved because many people are fighting to eliminate it, but incidents still occur. You can’t control everything. Still, we are moving in the right direction.”
The Bernabéu Effect
With Real Madrid hosting Benfica, García expects an intense atmosphere — especially in support of Vinicius.
“The Bernabéu will back Vinicius more than ever, and that will help him. We know he needs that affection and encouragement when he plays. He will want to step up and shine. It will benefit him. Benfica already understands what the Bernabéu is like and how difficult the atmosphere can be. José Mourinho knows how to work on the mental side, and I’m sure Benfica will be able to manage those emotions. It won’t be easy for Madrid. It’s going to be a fantastic match...”
Arbeloa and the Real Madrid Personality
Finally, García spoke about Álvaro Arbeloa and the pressure that comes with occupying the Real Madrid bench.
“The pressure won’t affect Arbeloa. I know him very well. He has more than enough personality to be there. To succeed at Real Madrid, you need character and confidence when things get difficult. He will keep believing in his ideas and push forward. Little by little, he’s getting things back on track, even though it’s not easy. I see him being more consistent with the players and respecting what was planned before. He’s fighting for La Liga and the Champions League. You should never rule Real Madrid out. I wish Álvaro the very best. We spent three years together at Castilla, and he’s a wonderful person.”
