Former La Masia jewel explains reason for summer exit – ‘Best midfield in the world’ | OneFootball

Former Barcelona midfielder Aleix Garrido has spoken about why he decided to leave the club he called home for 13 years.

Garrido, who joined Barça’s academy in 2012 at the Benjamin C level, rose through the ranks at La Masia, eventually becoming captain of Barça Atletic during the 2024/25 season.

Despite his steady growth, the 21-year-old realised he would not get the chance to play regularly for the first team under new manager Hansi Flick. With his contract expiring on June 30, he decided to take on a new challenge.

Speaking to Jijantes, Garrido shared that his move was a necessary step for his career. “It was time to take the step.

“Mentally, I was ready to leave Barcelona; you have to accept reality. If you look at the first team, you’ll see that we currently have the best midfield in the world,” he said honestly.

Garrido, who made his first-team debut under Xavi Hernandez in 2023, signed a three-year deal with Eibar in La Liga 2 after leaving Barcelona for free.

Reflects on Barcelona memories

Aleix Garrido left Barcelona for Eibar. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

While Garrido admitted it was tough to leave the city he had called home for over a decade, he also expressed excitement about his next chapter.

“It’s daunting to leave Barça. I’ve lived here for 13 years and never lacked anything, but I’m eager to experience something new.

“I fulfilled my dream of debuting with the first team. It was the best,” he shared, reflecting on his journey.

He also praised the short time he spent training under Flick. “One day I trained with Flick, I saw them practising the defensive line, it was something amazing, everyone had fully grasped it,” he noted.

He added that while he will miss his life in Barcelona, he is excited to start with Eibar and never considered offers from Saudi Arabia, saying, “I respect it, but I think something else is right for me.”

Looking to the future, Garrido highlighted some young talents at Barça who deserve attention. “We need to give Jan Virgili a chance. Dani Rodríguez had bad luck, but he’s another one who’s top-notch with the ball at his feet,” he said.

Garrido also praised Barça Atletic fullback Jofre Torrents: “He surprised us all. He is really top. In the locker room, we used to make jokes, telling him that he was our Maradona,” he concluded.