🎥 Eric Garcia breaks silence on City future and Lionel Messi rumours | OneFootball

Manchester City defender Eric Garcia remained coy on Tuesday when asked about rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona.

Garcia has just one year remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium and City boss Pep Guardiola confirmed last month that the 19-year-old has informed the club he does not intend to renew.

The former La Masia product has been strongly linked with a return to former club Barça but speaking to reporters ahead of Spain’s Uefa Nations League clash with Germany, he dropped a surprising hint that he could see out the final year of his contract in Manchester.

“Barça? I told Man City that I was not renewing, but I still have one season left with them and I hope to return,” he said.

With all reports suggesting City are currently working on a landmark bid to sign Lionel Messi, there have been suggestions Garcia could move to Camp Nou as a makeweight in the deal.

But when asked about the Messi rumours, the youngster said: “At Man City we have not spoken anything of which Lionel Messi could come.

“Everyone would like to have Messi on their team.”

Reports elsewhere on Tuesday claimed Messi’s father and agent Jorge has now boarded a private jet to Barcelona and will hold showdown talks about his son’s future with Blaugrana president Josep Maria Bartomeu on Wednesday.