La Liga rivals made two attempts to sign Barcelona defender but Flick shut them down | OneFootball

Eric Garcia’s connection with Girona is undeniable, but it seems Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is far from willing to let the young defender slip through his fingers.

According to a recent report from AS, Girona made two attempts to bring Garcia back to their side this season, but both times were met with firm resistance from Flick.

Having spent the previous season on loan at Girona, Garcia left a significant impression on the club.

His performances were solid enough to spark keen interest from Girona’s sporting director, Quique Carcel, and manager Michel, who were eager to secure his services once again.

Their efforts, however, proved fruitless as Flick remained adamant about keeping Garcia at Barcelona.

Flick refused to let him go

The summer transfer window saw the first attempt from Girona to lure Garcia back. They reportedly held discussions with Barcelona and the defender himself, trying to make a case for his return.

The idea was to offer Garcia a consistent role at Girona, something he has struggled to secure at Barça. But Flick was firm, insisting Garcia’s place was at Barcelona.

Girona made two attempts to sign Eric Garcia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Girona didn’t give up easily, though. During the winter transfer window, they tried again, making another formal approach to take Garcia on a repeat loan.

But just like the first time, the response from Flick was a definitive ‘no.’ The Barcelona manager clearly sees value in Garcia’s presence within his squad and refuses to let go of a player he considers an asset.

Flick values Garcia

From Flick’s perspective, Garcia’s versatility and ability to slot into various defensive roles make him a valuable option for Barcelona.

Whether as a centre-back or even as a makeshift pivot, Garcia provides the sort of depth Flick desires, especially with Barcelona’s ambitions stretching across multiple competitions.

The manager’s reluctance to let him leave suggests he has plans for the 24-year-old, even if it means restricting his game time for the sake of maintaining squad depth.

Meanwhile, the two sides are set to cross paths once again on Sunday, albeit under different circumstances.

Garcia will be lining up in Barcelona’s colours rather than Girona’s, a reminder of how Flick’s decisions have kept him firmly rooted at Barcelona.