According to recent reports, Barcelona are reported to have ‘started negotiations’ with Manchester City centre-back, Eric Garcia.
The reports by Mundo Deportivo journalist Miguel Rico (via Sport Witness) claim that Garcia would be available for a fee of €7-€10 million (£6.3-£8.9 million) this summer, as well as stating that Manchester City are aware that the 19-year-old ‘wants to return’ to Barcelona, whom he left for City in a £1.53 million deal back in 2017.
However, it is also reported that City have offered the player a pay rise of £28,000 per week – £12,000 to £40,000 per week – and, despite the defender wanting to move back to Spain, he will only do so if the Catalan club match Pep Guardiola’s side’s offer.
And, it would seem, this is where the deal could fall down, as it is believed that Barcelona ‘cannot match’ the offer of City.
In addition to this, it is evident that Guardiola does not want the 19-year-old to leave, stating that his ‘main fear’ is the player leaving the club.
TIF Thoughts…
Although Garcia has featured just 17 times for City’s first team, over recent weeks he has become a more permanent feature in Guardiola’s side, playing the full 90 minutes of City’s 4-0 victory over Liverpool and 1-0 loss to Southampton.
And, going forward, it would appear that the defender is very much a part of Guardiola’s first-team plans, with the Spaniard stating: “We are going to try to convince him to stay here for many, many, many years… We want him.”
Would you like to see Eric Garcia given a new contract with City?
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As such, it would certainly appear to be a blow for Manchester City if they were to lose the services of Garcia this summer, and, whether or not the defender is still at City next season, only time will tell.