Eric Garcia's time at Barça Escola

Eric Garcia is a footballer with 100% Barça DNA. The new centre-back began his career at Barça Escola, and later became part of La Masia.

In 2008, at just seven years old, Eric joined Barça Escola, as part of a team called ‘Dani Alves’. At the Barça school he played a season, 2008/09, where he stood out and was called up to be part of the U10B side during the 2009/10 season at La Masia.

During his season at the Barça Escola, Iñaki Andreu, who was the coordinator, explains: "Eric entered the school when he was very young and immediately played very well. But what really made him stand out above the rest and reach a much higher level during that season was his predisposition to learn, improve, and apply everything that was practiced in the training sessions on the pitch. He adds: "His attitude was always exemplary, serious, respectful of everything and everyone, giving his best at all times and, in addition, always helping his team-mates on and off the field."

Iñaki, who is currently part of the Barça Academy project, also recalls that "despite being a level higher than most boys and girls of his age, he never lost this desire to learn. His coaches always stressed that he involved all his team-mates and served as support, showing a maturity and leadership ability appropriate to his age, and being a clear example of the values ​​we want to convey to our young people and the style of play that characterises us. All this helped him to join the youngest team in Barça's youth football structure the following season."

A leader at La Masia

Eric later went through virtually every category of youth football, being captain in all of them and a leader on the pitch. In 2017, he left FC Barcelona for Manchester City and now, four years later, the centre-back is returning home to be part of the first team along with former team-mate and friend Ansu Fati.