Eric Garcia made three appearances for Premier League champions Manchester City and the former Barcelona defender has a big future.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will promote Eric Garcia to the first-team squad next season with the Premier League champions expected to lose at least one of their existing centre-backs, according to Sky Sports.
City left Barcelona red-faced when they snapped up the one of the most talented youngsters in the La Masia academy and, at the age of just 18, Garcia is now fast emerging as a real star for the future at the Etihad Stadium.
The teenage Spaniard made three appearances for the senior side in 2018/19, featuring in the EFL Cup as he helped City complete an unprecedented domestic treble.
“He was incredible. He has a lot, a lot, of personality. In the pre-season, in the United States, he was incredible,” Guardiola told Goal of Garcia after he made his debut in a victory against Leicester in December.
“He commanded the [defensive] line. He played against Liverpool and Bayern Munich, he was incredible.”
It’s fair to say Guardiola rates Garcia very highly then and it should perhaps come as little surprise to learn that the youngster is set for a bigger role in Manchester City’s first team plans next season.
Sky claims that Eliaquim Mangala is likely to re-join Porto while Nicolas Otamendi is expected to depart too. City, though, are looking to sign just the one centre-back – leaving room for Garcia to force his way into Guardiola’s plans.
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