Barcelona serious about renewing €15 million-rated versatile defender’s contract | OneFootball

Eric Garcia was close to leaving Barcelona last summer, but the club’s financial situation and lack of funds for new signings saw the club hold on to him as a valuable squad player.

He was then again close to leaving for Girona in January after a dull first half of the season. Hansi Flick, however, relayed that he would be important if he stayed and the player opted to continue at the club of his dreams.

From that point, there was no turning back. The German manager has now found great utility in Garcia and sees him as a profile who can play well in central defence, as a pivot and even as a right-back.

Surprisingly, moreover, he has excelled in the full-back position and has the management seriously considering a longer future together.

Renewal being considered

If reports from SPORT are to be believed, Garcia has turned his situation to such an extent that the club are seriously considering offering him a contract extension to stay at the club for the years to come. After all, his current deal runs out in June 2026.

Barcelona want to renew Eric Garcia. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

From being close to dispensable a year ago, the La Masia star has come a long way to now being a highly valued and trusted member of the squad.

Garcia is unlikely to begin next season as a starter, especially with Jules Kounde, Marc Casado and Marc Bernal all to enter the campaign fit.

However, no one can deny at this point that he will be one of Flick’s more extensively used substitutes especially given his versatility.

The coming weeks will thus be important in sealing the defender’s future, for Hansu Flick has truly shown how fringe players are equally key to the team’s success and made them more valued. Versatility, after all, comes rare and is a profile to preserve.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication