In a recent report, Manchester Evening News has provided an update on the future of Manchester City defender Eric Garcia. It has been claimed that the Spanish centre-back is on Barcelona’s radar and is facing an uncertain future at the Etihad Stadium.
Garcia’s Rapid Rise At The North-West Of England
Garcia proved his worth as a valuable squad player in the second half of the 2019-20 Premier League campaign after putting in several assured displays at the heart of Pep Guardiola’s defence. The Barcelona-born sensation featured in 20 matches for Man City last season, picking up one assist and one yellow card on all fronts.
Defensively, the 19-year-old was a rock at the back as he averaged 0.7 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 2.3 clearances per 90 minutes in the English top tier and the UEFA Champions League. He even managed to end the previous campaign with a pass success rate of 93.8% in both those competitions which highlights just how well he has adapted to Guardiola’s style of play at Manchester (stats via whoscored).
The five-time Spanish U-21 international’s ceiling is sky-high, but Man City could use him as a pawn to orchestrate a move for Lionel Messi this summer. Maybe a return to his homeland could help him develop as a footballer and allow him to take his game to another level if he works hard in improving himself in the coming seasons.
What Does The Spanish Defensive Ace Bring On The Field?
Standing at 1.83m, Garcia can make himself big and has made a habit of keeping calm under pressure to come away with the ball inside his half. The Spaniard excels at sensing the threat quickly and usually positions himself ideally to deal with the situation at the back. However, he can sometimes lack the pace to make recovering runs when he is caught out of position on the counter.
Should Man City Retain Garcia’s Services Beyond This Summer?
Garcia still has a lot of time to transform himself into a reliable defender in top-flight football. He has already shown a lot of encouraging signs via his dominant performances for the Mancunian giants over the past 12 months.
If Guardiola can use Garcia as a piece to bring Messi to the Etihad, then the Spanish head coach should consider doing so as the Argentine superstar will immediately make Man City the clear favourites to win every competition they take part in next season.
If not, then the League Cup champions will be better off retaining Garcia’s services for the long-run as he has the potential to become a world-class player in his position someday. At 19, the Spanish whizkid needs to ensure regular game time in the upcoming campaign, so he should either demand more first-team chances at Manchester or else seal a move to the Nou Camp where he can serve as a long-term replacement for Gerard Pique.
