Ronald Koeman confirms Barcelona WILL sign Eric Garcia in 2021
Ronald Koeman confirms Barcelona WILL sign Eric Garcia on a free transfer in the summer ‘if he can’t join now’ with cash-strapped giants struggling to pay Man City’s £2.65m asking price
- Barcelona have been in pursuit of Man City centre back Eric Garcia for a while
- Garcia is desperate to return to his boyhood club amid their intense interest
- But Barca have struggled to acquire his signature amid their financial crisis
- This week, their accumulated debt was revealed to have eclipsed £1billion
- Ronald Koeman however has confirmed a move will be completed at some stage
Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has put fans’ minds to ease by confirming the club will eventually sign Eric Garcia for free this summer if they can’t manage to sign him before the January transfer window shuts.
The Catalans have been in hot pursuit of the Manchester City centre back for quite some time now, with Garcia desperate to return to his boyhood club – for whom he played for between 2008 and 2017.
Garcia’s time at City is coming to an end with his contract expiring in the summer, and Barca have been hoping to wrap up a deal for a while now.
Ronald Koeman (left) confirmed that Eric Garcia (right) will join Barcelona by the summer
Garcia’s City contract expires this summer but Barcelona could move for him in January
But during a week in which Barcelona confessed to a £1billion club debt, the LaLiga giants may have to pass up the chance of Garcia’s immediate influence for a reported £2.65million fee.
Koeman told his pre-match press conference ahead of Barcelona’s home tie against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday: ‘We already know he (Garcia) will probably arrive in the summer.
‘If it’s not possible this January, then we’ll accept it and move on.’
The Dutchman confirmed that he has been in contact with City boss Pep Guardiola this week to congratulate him on his 50th birthday, but claims they did not discuss Garcia.
Garcia came through the Barcelona academy (above) before joining Man City in 2017
The Spanish defender, who came through the Barcelona academy and joined City from the Catalans in 2017, has been identified as Gerard Pique’s long-term successor at the Nou Camp.
However, Garcia has been struggling for game time in Guardiola’s squad this season – which is partly to do with the recent success of Ruben Dias and John Stones at centre-back.
The 20-year-old has played just once in City’s last 14 league games, a 20-minute cameo in the club’s 5-0 thrashing of Burnley at the end of November.
Overall, Garcia has played just three Premier League games and three Champions League matches this season.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola (above) announced last season that Garcia will leave in 2021
The Spaniard played 25 times in all competitions last term, though City boss Guardiola confirmed at the back end of last season that Garcia does not want to renew his expiring contract.
Barcelona have also been strongly linked with Lyon captain Memphis Depay, who worked with current Catalans boss Koeman at international level.
Depay’s contract with the French club also comes to an end this summer, with Barcelona weighing up whether to move for him now or wait another six months.
Barcelona go into Sunday’s match with Athletic Bilbao in third place, ten points behind leaders Atletico Madrid who have a game in hand over Koeman’s side.
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