Centre-back Eric Garcia is all set to leave Manchester City to join Barcelona in the current transfer window, despite his contract expiring in the summer, according to the latest reports from Spain on Tuesday night.
It had been expected that the Camp Nou side would be content to wait another six months in order to sign their former La Masia prospect back on a free transfer.
The young central defender had been showing a keen interest in returning to his former club, so there was no apparent concern for Barca that he could sign a pre-contract with another club, amid reported interest from Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
Mundo Deportivo reports that Manchester City have agreed to lower their fee and accept a €5 million sum for Eric Garcia to make the move back to Barcelona this month. However, the only stumbling block that is currently holding back the deal from finally being completed is that Barcelona are currently unable to sign any players with a presidential election ongoing at the club, and the approval of the presidential candidates themselves is all that’s needed to seal the deal.
It was a long drawn out saga which ultimately saw Eric Garcia remain at the Etihad Stadium during the summer transfer window where the young defender refused to sign a new deal, and firm negotiations from the Cityzens coupled with a lack of finances at Barcelona left Garcia with no alternatives but to remain at the Etihad.