Barcelona defender could have made his last start vs Leganes with January exit growing close | OneFootball

Barcelona made it two defeats in their last two home games as they fell to a 1-0 loss to Leganes last night at Montjuic.

The game did not see the Catalans dish out a particularly inspiring display as they created multiple chances on the night and could well have won by a massive margin on another night.

However, poor finishing let them down and they never found a reply to the visitors’ early opener that was made possible due to Eric Garcia’s failure to mark his man in an early set-piece.

First and last start?

Last night’s game was Garcia’s first start of the season as a centre-back under Hansi Flick, and Javi Miguel of AS reveals that it could well be his last as well.

The player was not called into action much after his initial mistake and did not put too many steps wrong. His involvement at the club will reduce regardless, however, given the influx of defenders once more.

Garcia to Girona in January? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Ronald Araujo was on the bench last night and can make his debut for the club this season either against Atletico Madrid or after the Christmas break whereas Andreas Christensen is also expected to return in January.

Needless to say, the return of the better-placed defensive duo will see Garcia fall out of favour.

The Spanish outlet thus reveals that his move to Girona in January is growing more and more likely as the days pass.

After all, he was a regular starter in Michel’s side on loan last season and may well prefer the regular action at Girona over the bench role he is offered at Barcelona.

So far this season, the 23-year-old has featured primarily as a defensive midfielder but the return of Gavi and Frenkie de Jong saw him lose his place.

Christensen’s imminent return further reduces his chance of involvement as the Dane can play as a pivot as well.

As such, Garcia, who enjoyed his season on loan at Girona in 2023/24, could be on his way back to Estadi Montilivi in the coming month.