1 in, 1 out: Barcelona’s summer plans for on-loan defensive pair | OneFootball

An insight into the plans of the brass at La Liga giants Barcelona for two members of the club’s loan army has this weekend been provided.

The info comes courtesy of Diario Sport, and surrounds Eric García, and Chadi Riad.

Defensive pair García and Riad are both currently in the midst of loan stints with Barcelona’s rivals in Spain’s top-flight.

Deemed surplus to requirements last summer, the former linked up with Girona for the duration of the campaign, with the latter having put pen to paper on terms with Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis.

And both, over the months since, have gone on to shine with their respective clubs.

Former Manchester City man García has proven an absolutely integral contributor to the remarkable season being enjoyed by high-flying Girona, with Morrocan international Riad, at just 20, having carved out a starting role for himself with Betis, too.

So, what does the immediate future entail for the pair?

As alluded to above, an insight into as much has today been provided by Sport.

In the case of García, Barcelona boss Xavi views him as “a guarantee and an example for the locker room”.

For this reason, despite something of an ‘overbooking’ at the heart of his defence, Xavi is ready to ask the 23-year-old to stay put next season, to fight for his place in Catalunya’s capital.

The situation of Riad, on the other hand, is altogether more complicated.

Real Betis, for their part, boast a cut-price buy option on the youngster, set at €3 million, which they are widely expected to activate.

Barca, though, maintain an immediate buyback option, too, which the Blaugrana, it is claimed, have every intention of making use of.

Xavi, again, is said to be a keen admirer of Riad’s talents, with the stopper himself eager to prove himself in Blaugrana colours in pre-season.

The most likely scenario, however, is that he will be included in a further operation, potentially as part of an exchange deal.

Conor Laird | GSFN