Barcelona defender Eric Garcia allegedly has interest from five clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, including Tottenham Hotspur.
Barcelona defender Eric Garcia reportedly has interest from five clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.
The 24-year-old is not first choice for the Catalan giants, but he has still featured on 39 occasions during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring three goals and registering two assists in the process.
The absence of Jules Kounde with a hamstring issue means that Garcia is likely to start at right-back against Inter Milan in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at San Siro next week.
However, there is currently widespread speculation when it comes to the Spain international’s future, with a switch away from his current team believed to be probable during the summer market.
According to Fichajes, Tottenham Hotspur, Girona, Real Sociedad, Real Betis and Como are all currently positioning themselves to battle for his services at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
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Tottenham, Real Betis ‘among clubs’ keen on Garcia
The report claims that Barcelona are not looking to actively sell Garcia this summer and will leave the decision up to the player.
There was huge speculation surrounding Garcia’s future during the January transfer window, with Girona and Como both believed to have been in touch over a mid-season deal.
Barcelona had allegedly been willing to accept a fee of €7m (£5.8m) plus add-ons – a bargain considering his quality – but head coach Hansi Flick made it clear that he wanted to keep hold of the versatile defender.
Garcia excelled on loan at Girona last season, while he has made 109 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions, scoring four goals and registering four assists in the process.
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Deco unable to guarantee Garcia will remain at Barcelona
Earlier this year, when questioned on his future, Barcelona sporting director Deco admitted that Garcia’s future could ultimately be away from the Catalan giants.
“I repeat. Each one has his own story and his own contract. Eric is a player who grew a lot last season at Girona. The Eric that the clubs wanted this season is not the Eric who left here a year earlier,” Deco told SPORT.
“He is a much more accomplished player, much more mature. He has a lot of self-confidence, he has been an Olympic champion. He is 23 years old and is reaching his maturity. He has one more year of contract with us, the relationship with his agent is very good.
“I think we have to go little by little. In a season there are moments, sometimes a player feels valued and other times, not. Now he is in a good moment, but we don’t know if he will continue.
“I think so because I think he has the capacity to reach a great level and then he must want to continue at Barca. Once this is over, he is surely a player that we want to count on, but I don’t think now is the time yet.”
Garcia has featured in each of Barcelona’s last 13 league matches, and he played the full 90 minutes against Mallorca last time out before coming off the bench to replace Kounde against Inter in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
