Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed Eric Garcia will join Barcelona on a free transfer this summer.
Garcia, who came through Barca’s academy before joining City in 2017, rejected a new contract at the Etihad last summer and will be a free agent at the end of the campaign.
The defeneder has made just 10 appearances this season and was not part of the squad as City won their fourth successive Carabao Cup in a 1-0 victory over Tottenham on Sunday.
When asked about the rotation of his squad following the victory at Wembley, Guardiola said: ‘There are players even who don’t play any matches. I think, for example, of Eric Garcia who is one of my favourite players.
‘I would love to have 15 Eric Garcias for the way he conducts his behaviour. He is always thinking of the team.
‘He’s always a good face in the good or bad moments. He helps the manager and the backroom staff all the time.
‘He will go in an incredible team and when the people say they are unsatisfied if I don’t play, I think of Eric.
‘Most of the time he’s not on the bench because he’s going to move to Barcelona, I hope so. It’s tough, but it is what it is.’
Garcia has made just two starts in the Premier League this season with two appearances off the bench.
The centre back has found himself behind John Stones, Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte in the pecking order while Nathan Ake is also fit again and was on the bench at Wembley.
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