Why Manchester City must keep hold of Eric García

While it’s no surprise that Barcelona are looking to bring back 19-year old Manchester City star and former La Masia graduate Eric García, the Citizens must do everything necessary to keep him.

Ever since earning the trust of manager Pep Guardiola, 19-year old Spanish defender Eric García has shown maturity beyond his years, a calmness at the back far superior to veterans John Stones and Nicolás Otamendi, and in the process has become a sensation for Manchester City.

Although City have been linked with a big move in the transfer market for a central defender such as Kalidou Koulibaly, there is no doubt that García still has a massive role to play in the future at the Etihad Stadium. However, FC Barcelona appear to be interested in bringing him back to his former club, and García alarmingly only has one year left on his current deal.

In my view, it is best for both the player and club to hammer out an extension, as he will be much closer to the top choice in Manchester than he will in Catalonia. While Gerard Piqué is aging, Barcelona still have options such as Clément Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti, and potentially a returning Jean-Clair Todibo to contend with.

At City, he is currently among the first choice partnership, and will be right there to slot in even if a veteran presence such as Koulibaly is brought in. Moreover, Barcelona are a club in disarray at the moment from the board level down, spending wildly and often poorly while refusing to give young talent a chance. If the board had stuck to the policy of using La Masia that led to their era of dominance a decade ago, surely García would already be well ingrained within the first team at the Camp Nou.

City are willing to give the young Spaniard an improved contract, but reports are conflicting on whether or not he is willing to commit his future to the club, much like we saw throughout most of the Leroy Sané transfer saga. Given the team’s lack of depth in defense relative to the wide positions, it could be argued that losing García would be an even bigger blow to the Citizens’ future.

More from Man City Editorials

Therefore, all measures must be taken to keep one of the club’s bright academy talents happy and ready to carry the Blues forward in the years to come. García has massive potential, and Guardiola has recognized that he has earned the right to be first choice alongside Aymeric Laporte, with whom he has forged a great partnership, over big money signings Stones and Otamendi. García playing at senior level has been an incredible sight this season, and here’s to it continuing for many to come.