Barcelona boss shuts down talk of defender’s January switch to Girona – ‘Don’t think he will leave’ | OneFootball

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has effectively put an end to speculation surrounding Eric Garcia’s future, confirming that the defender will not be leaving the club during the current transfer window.

Despite widespread reports suggesting that Garcia was the most likely candidate to depart in January, Flick’s stance firmly dismisses these rumours.

Garcia’s situation has been a topic of discussion due to his limited role in the team. With the return of Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen from injury, as well as intense competition for spots in midfield, his chances of securing consistent playing time are slim.

These factors have fueled speculation about his potential departure, with Girona reportedly showing strong interest in signing him.

Girona’s interest was looming

Recent reports indicated that Girona were prepared to complete Garcia’s transfer for a fee of €10 million, which included both fixed amounts and performance-related variables.

Eric Garcia will not leave Barcelona this month. (Photo by Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images)

Many believed that this deal was close to being finalised, especially considering Garcia’s openness to a move.

The player is thought to be aware that his minutes on the pitch will be further reduced once Araujo and Christensen return to full fitness.

However, Flick has decisively shut down these rumours. He has expressed confidence in Garcia’s abilities and has no intention of letting the player leave this winter.

“I don’t think Eric Garcia will leave in the winter. For us, he is ours and he is a good player,” the manager told Barça One.

Flick values the defender’s versatility, as Garcia is capable of performing in multiple positions, a trait highly regarded in Barcelona’s tactical setup.

“He is an intelligent player that can play in different positions. We are not thinking about his departure at the moment,” he added.

On Szczesny and Christensen

The Barcelona boss also shared his thoughts on veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny’s chances of featuring against Barbastro.

Hansi Flick has not picked his goalkeeper yet. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Earlier reports confirmed that the stopper would make his much-awaited debut, but the manager has stated that no decision has been made yet.

“What I can say is that Tek is training very well, but the decision has not been made, we will have to wait until tomorrow. We will see,” he said.

Lastly, the manager also confirmed that it is too early for key defender Christensen to make a comeback against Barbastro, although he did mention that the defender will travel with the squad to Saudi for the Spanish Super Cup.

“For Andreas, he is doing really well, he has developed a lot. He is also training well, but it is still too early for the Barbastro match.

“He will go with us to Saudi Arabia, but we will see what happens there. The plan is that maybe after Saudi Arabia he will be ready to join the team, but we have to follow his development day by day and manage him properly,” he added.