Pep Guardiola has publicly confirmed that Manchester City have signed Eric Garcia from Barcelona, although the two clubs are yet to make official announcements.
Spanish publication Sport have reported that Pep Guardiola has announced Manchester City’s latest signing, having captured 16-year-old Spanish wonderkid Eric Garcia from Barcelona. The two clubs, however, are yet to confirm the same through an official announcement.
As reported by Sport, Guardiola said while speaking to TV3, “We had very good references but I haven’t had the chance to see him play. I have been told very good things about him and the chance of signing him opened up. He wanted to make the move and the club have given him the chance.”
Garcia is one of the most promising players to have emerged out of La Masia in the last few years. The 16-year-old defender is highly versatile as he is equally adept at playing as a centre-back as he is as a right-back, although he prefers playing at the heart of defence.
Speaking to TV3, Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Manchester City have signed Eric García (16) from Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/Vd3Sqmu96B
— City Watch (@City_Watch) July 3, 2017
The player is also a fully-fledged member of the Spain under-17 side, and was a crucial part of the team that clinched the European under-17 championship earlier this year. In fact, Garcia has been so impressive for his club and national sides that many within the youth setup have often compared him to Gerard Pique.
And the player now looks set to take a similar route to Manchester to continue his footballing education as the Barcelona veteran did as a teenager. While Pique moved to Manchester United as a 17-year-old, Garcia is set to move to the blue half of the city after his agent told Barcelona that he will not be renewing his deal with the club.
The 16-year-old is a coup of sorts for City as he had been earmarked as a future great for Barcelona and a potential long-term successor to Pique. But it now looks like he could soon play under former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola should he continue his development at a similar rate at City.
The defender’s abilities on the ball makes him and pace also makes him an ideal future fit in Guardiola’s system at the Etihad. Reports have claimed that the Garcia has signed a three-year deal with City and will earn €1 million.
It now remains to be seen if he can impress the coaches at Manchester City quickly to fast track his way into the first team in a year or two. For now though, the Citizens seem to have struck gold in the transfer market.
