Eric Garcia Signs Five-Year Contract With Barcelona

Eric Garcia (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Eric Garcia has agreed a five-year contract with Barcelona, ​​but it remains to be seen whether the Spanish defender leaves Manchester City in January or when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The 19-year-old defender shocked City last summer when he refused a contract extension. Garcia is known to have graduated from the Barcelona academy and reportedly wants to return to his childhood club.

As reported by Antara from The Guardian, Friday, January 1, City asked for £ 20 million (around Rp. 386 billion) plus £ 10 million (around Rp. 190 billion), if Barcelona wanted to send Garcia home.

However, García's contract remains less than six months and he has the freedom to negotiate with other clubs and has reached an agreement to return to Catalunya at the end of the season.

Barcelona are still looking to get the player in the January transfer window, but they need to meet City's asking price.

García has only played 200 minutes in the English Premier League this season, despite appearing regularly at the end of last season.

Pep Guardiola hopes that the Spanish national team defender will change his mind.

Although his move remains dependent on the results of the Barcelona presidential election, García is known to be eager to return to his hometown club.

"He (García) told us that he doesn't want to extend his contract with Manchester City, so he has one more year," said Guardiola in August last year.

"We want him, but he doesn't want to extend (the contract). I think he wants to play somewhere else. "