When Manu Garcia told Goal back in 2015 that he would relish the prospect of working with Patrick Vieira again in the future, it’s unlikely he was thinking about Crystal Palace and Selhurst Park.
Garcia, at the time of Vieira’s cross-Atlantic switch from Manchester City’s U23s to the New York City FC hotseat, was one of the most promising young talents rising through the ranks at the Premier League giants. A twinkle-toed playmaker often likened to a young David Silva for his balletic footwork, outstanding awareness and eye for a defence-splitting pass.
Vieira even labelled Garcia’s first senior goal – against Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup no less – as the highlight of his time at the space-age Etihad Campus.
“My favourite and proudest moment at this club was seeing Manu Garcia play with the first-team against Crystal Palace and to score a goal,” Vieira smiled.
“My proudest moments are looking at a first-team team-sheet and seeing three or four players from the EDS (Elite Development Squad) there.
“That’s what we we’re working for, that’s the target – when I see young players go from the Academy to the first-team. That’s what it’s all for.”
The admiration between player and coach was certainly no cul-de-sac either. It’s very much a two-way street.
Manu Garcia and Patrick Vieira could be reunited at Crystal Palace
“He’s a big influence,” Garcia said at the time. “It’s amazing for us to have had him. And I hope sometime in the future we work together again. But we will see.”
“I struggled (initially) in the youth team,” the once-capped Spain international would later tell Marca.
“I wasn’t getting in the side much. But the manager, then Patrick Vieira, encouraged me. He saw I could play, and put me in the team. That same year I went on a post-season tour with the first-team.”
So with La Voz de Asturias reporting that Garcia could be on his way back to England this summer – three years after Man City accepted a club-record bid of £3.5 million from Sporting Gijon – Crystal Palace’s name simply leaps off the page. Burnley are interested too, as are West Ham United (El Comercio).
Burnley, of course, have a former Man City coach – and legend – in their own dugout; Vincent Kompany. West Ham, meanwhile, can offer Garcia European football and a potential top-six challenge.
But Crystal Palace have a 6ft 4ins-sized trump card up their sleeves.
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