Report: Eric Garcia set to become Barcelona’s first signing under Laporta’s new term

Manchester City defender Eric Garcia’s return to his boyhood club Barcelona is now imminent, reports ESPN’s Moises Llorens. The youngster has been consistently linked with a return to Spain since last year, and now it seems as though after a few hindrances, the deal is set to go through.

Garcia’s contract with English giants Manchester City is set to expire this summer, which would see the centre-back arrive at Barcelona on a free transfer. The club had an agreement in place with the 20-year old since January, but the terms of that deal were reportedly different from those offered to him by the previous board.

The operation was put on hold, but sources close to Manchester City say that Eric Garcia is very close to reaching another agreement with Barcelona, which would make him the first signing of this new era under Joan Laporta. The report highlights that there have been ‘constructive meetings’ between the representatives.

City manager and former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola also seemed to confirmed the news and dished out high praise for the young defender, saying: “Eric Garcia is one of my favourite players, “I would love to have 15 Eric Garcias. He’s not on the bench because I think he’s going to move to Barcelona.”

Garcia is considered a priority for the Catalans, and even Mundo Deportivo recently reported that sources close to the negotiations believe that an agreement will be reached in the end. The club’s delicate economic situation must have led to the reformulation of the contract, but it now looks like the La Masia graduate will return home soon.