"Once seen as a surplus defender, Eric Garcia has completed a remarkable turnaround at FC Barcelona. The former Man City star is currently the undisputed owner of the midfield pivot role, becoming an indispensable piece in Hansi Flick's setup. Through a mix of natural talent, tactical intelligence, and adaptability, Garcia has won over the German manager completely, reports SPORT. His status is now so secure that he has managed to keep established stars like Frenkie de Jong on the bench,"
"Although we are yet to reach the halfway point of the season, Garcia has already accumulated 21 starts across all competitions. This figure has already surpassed his total from the entire previous campaign, where he managed just 19 starts. Moreover, Garcia has clocked 1,861 minutes this season and needs just 243 more minutes - less than three full matches - to surpass the 2,104 minutes he played in the entirety of the 2024/25 season."
"Garcia's next target will be to beat his personal best of 31 starts in a single Barcelona season, achieved in 2021/22 under Ronald Koeman and Xavi Hernandez. With his current trajectory, he is well on track to make this a historic individual campaign, which in turn could help him potentially return to the national team fold as well. The versatile defender last played for Spain in 2022."
Eric Garcia has transformed from surplus defender to Barcelona's undisputed midfield pivot under Hansi Flick, combining talent, tactical intelligence, and adaptability. Garcia has secured a starting role that displaces even established players like Frenkie de Jong, with continuity and balance prioritised. He has already recorded 21 starts and 1,861 minutes this season, surpassing last season's totals and appearing in every match so far. Garcia aims to exceed his personal best of 31 starts in a single season and stands on course for a historic campaign. Strong performances could prompt a return to the Spain national team after last featuring in 2022.
Read at Barca Universal
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