Could This FC Barcelona Defender Be Offloaded This Week?

FC Barcelona defender Eric Garcia appears set to be the club’s next departure in the coming days according to SPORT.

The 22-year-old, who grew in Barca’s La Masia academy but finished his graduation to the pro ranks at Manchester City, arrived home in the summer of 2021 to fanfare when deciding not to extend his contract at the Etihad.

Barca were struggling at the time economically, so acquiring the Catalan on a free transfer was seen as a major coup after then-coach Ronald Koeman failed to land him for a reduced fee in the January 2021 window.

The Dutchman immediately gave Garcia starting status that also allowed him to become a Spain international talked up as the long-term heir to Gerard Pique in central defense.

When Pique retired in November 2022 a year after Xavi Hernandez took over in the dugout from the fired Koeman, Garcia expected to become an undisputed regular in defense partnering Ronald Araujo.

With the forming of a formidable partnership between the Uruguayan and Andreas Christensen, however, he has fallen down the pecking order at Camp Nou as even World Cup finalist Jules Kounde has had to settle for filling in at right back out of his preferred position in the center.

Xavi has tried to play Garcia as a pivot, but the quest to find new players in the role now that Sergio Busquets has left the club doesn’t communicate that the coach has full faith in the youngster in this area of the pitch.

With Inigo Martinez set to join from Athletic Club as well, Garcia will face further competition on the back line and could be nearing a loan deal elsewhere according to SPORT.

The daily newspaper expects Garcia to be Barca’s next departure, with the arrival of former Barca sporting director Ramon Planes – who signed him from City – at Real Betis possibly making the Seville outfit his next stop.

Planes already appears close to taking Barca midfielder Nico Gonzalez – who likewise isn’t trusted as Busquets’ replacement – on loan, and Garcia is mulling over whether he should also move on to get more minutes.

There will be few of those at the Montjuic Stadium next term, yet playing regularly for Betis could boost Garcia’s chances of making Spain’s Euro 2024 squad in Germany next summer after starring in that which reached the semi-finals of the tournament in its last edition where La Roja lost on penalties to eventual champions Italy.

Garcia is expected to make his decision in the next few days, and leaving now would prevent him from going on Barca’s preseason tour of the US for no reason.

Furthermore, the deal could also include an option to buy for Betis, who might not be expected to pay that much for Garcia considering he re-joined Barca for free.