Barcelona in talks with Manchester City over Eric Garcia

Barcelona wants to bring the former Masia player back.

Barcelona knows that they need to refresh their squad ahead of next season and have identified a player they want to lead that change.

According to Diario Sport, Barcelona is in talks with Manchester City to bring back centre-back Eric Garcia. Garcia rose through the ranks at the famed La Masia academy before leaving to join City back in 2017.

Under Pep Guardiola, Garcia has taken steps and has started a handful of games for City and showing why he was one of the Catalans most highly touted prospects and why it was a blow to lose him. So then why would City be open to selling back to Barcelona?

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The main reason is that Garcia’s contract is set to end in 2021. If it ends without a new deal being reached, then he could potentially leave on a free. They were facing a similar situation with Sane and he was ultimately sold to Bayern Munich.

Garcia left Barcelona because he thought he could develop better there and have a better chance of playing. Things have changed at his former club.

Gerard Pique isn’t getting any younger and Samuel Umtiti can’t seem to stay healthy. With Clement Lenglet and Ronald Araujo the only other centre-backs, there now appears to be a spot should Garcia want a return home.

The Catalan see his signing as a move for the present but also the future. Garcia is only 19-years-old and has his whole career ahead of him.

Talks are in their early stages so nothing is concrete at the moment. City’s Champions League fate could play a role in whether he signs a new deal or not. Also, City may look to build the defence around him.

As it stands, Aymeric Laporte is the only centre-back Pep truly counts on. Nicolas Otamendi is too error-prone and Fernandinho has proven he functions better in midfield. Losing Garcia would be a blow but they’ve proven that they’d rather sell and get something than let a player walk on a free.

Barcelona used to have an implicit policy that they would not try to bring back players who left the academy unless it was an exceptional case. With what Garcia can offer, he certainly fits that bill.

With the uncertainty in the transfer market, a deal is likely not going to be reached anytime soon. If Barcelona is serious about a squad revamp, signing Garcia would be a step in the right direction.