Eric Garcia has confirmed that he is joining Barcelona on a Bosman move once he leaves Manchester City as a free agent.
In an interview with Catalan outlet L’Esportiu, Eric Garcia has confirmed that he is set to join Barcelona in the summer transfer window. The Spanish international is leaving Manchester City as a free agent once his contract runs out on June 30.
Eric Garcia joined Manchester City from Barcelona in the summer of 2017 amid an exodus by La Masia graduates who were seeking first-team opportunities quickly. Garcia, though, had to wait till December 2018 to make his first-team debut with Manchester City before making only 34 further appearances for the Citizens.
The 2020/21 season was one to forget for the 20-year-old, who was lagging a fair bit behind in the pecking order for centre-backs, meaning he only turned out 12 times for Manchester City. That has done nothing to affect his stock, though, as Garcia is now set to join Barcelona this coming summer.
Murmurings of Garcia’s Bosman move to Barcelona have been around for months now, especially since Pep Guardiola announced that he will not be renewing terms with Manchester City. In fact, Barcelona even tried to sign the Spanish international last summer as well as in the January transfer window, but to no avail.
However, with Garcia refusing to commit to a new contract at the Etihad, a free transfer to Barcelona has appeared to be a mere formality. And now, the young defender has confirmed the same, admitting that he is set to return to Barcelona this summer, in an interview with L’Esportiu.
Garcia commented on his decision to leave Manchester City as a free agent to join Barcelona by saying, “I have thought about my future, what I think is the best now. I think it’s a brave decision. I am very convinced of the step I have taken,” before speaking about his comparisons with Gerard Pique, adding, “Nothing, I don’t care because I think we’re different footballers, right?”
The pursuit of Garcia does make sense for Barcelona, seeing as Gerard Pique is in the twilight of his illustrious career. Therefore, Garcia, along with Ronald Araujo and Oscar Mingueza, could be a part of the succession plan for the veteran defender. The Blaugrana also look set to sign a second centre-back, with Inigo Martinez among those being linked.
The Spanish international, meanwhile, is one of two Manchester City players set to make their way to Camp Nou this summer, with Sergio Aguero on the verge of joining Barcelona as well. It will now be interesting to see how Garcia’s career takes shape once he seals his return to Barcelona this summer.