Eric Garcia ready to give everything for Barça

Eric Garcia is coming home and he’s doing it in style. After four successful seasons at Manchester City, he expects a “future of success at Barça. I think this is the end of a road that I began in the U8s at Barça. My dream was to make the first team and I will give everything for this shirt, just like I did when I was a kid.”

He was speaking at this presentation, where he was joined by president Joan Laporta, vice-president for sport Rafa Yuste and director of football Mateu Alemany.

“This is where everyone wants to be and here I am” he continued. “After the elections, the president spoke to my people and I made my intentions very clear.”

Indeed, Laporta added that “I am very grateful to Eric for his effort, will and keenness. Today is a historic day for Barça.”

Piqué and Ansu

Comparisons with Gerard Piqué are inevitable. But Garcia insists that “although everyone likes to do that, I am only just starting out, while he has won everything and has been the best centre back of the last decade or so. We can’t be compared. I need to rise to his level.”

He was also asked about his former youth team-mate Ansu Fati, with whom he says “I have a very close relationship since he came to Barça as an under 12. We have stayed in contact since I left. I love the guy and we are huge friends. When we were little, we always said we’d play together one day at Camp Nou and I’m really looking forward to that finally happening.”

Laporta on Messi

Laporta also commented that “talks with Messi are going well but nothing is decided yet.” He also said he has nothing to say regarding Ronald Koeman, with whom conversations are still in progress.

And asked whether Eric Garcia’s arrival has overloaded the centre of defence, the president said he needed to talk to the coach about the required number of centre backs. “We’re making it hard for him” he joked. “I believe we are signing top quality players and I’m very happy with the way we’re rebuilding Barça.”