Barcelona’s €20 million-rated injured star could return by November end – report

Barcelona have had to deal with a number of injury issues since the start of the 2024/25 season with Eric Garcia becoming the latest player to be sidelined.

The 23-year-old defender was set to start the La Liga game against Sevilla last month but had to be pulled out of the lineup after suffering discomfort during warm-up.

The issue was not believed to be serious and expectations were that he could be back for the Clasico in October last week, but it was not to be.

Garcia likely to return by November end

Ahead of this past weekend’s Catalan derby against RCD Espanyol, Hansi Flick confirmed that Eric Garcia will be available only after the international break.

Following that, reports emerged suggesting that the former Manchester City starlet was dealing with a case of ‘pubalgia’, i.e., severe pain in the groin area.

Given the condition, Garcia would be unable to return until the pain and discomfort in the region are completely gone.

Building on that, SPORT reports that the Barcelona defender could be back by the end of November and not immediately after the international break.

In extreme cases, footballers might require surgery to address this kind of issue, but the versatile Barcelona star’s situation is not that bad at the moment. As such, he is expected to be back by the end of the month.

Barça face Celta Vigo immediately after the final international window of 2024 but it is unlikely Garcia will be ready by then.

The subsequent games against Brest in the UEFA Champions League (November 26) or the Las Palmas clash in La Liga (December 1) could be when the 23-year-old could return.

Before his injury, Garcia played nine times for Barcelona this season in all competitions, proving his worth as a reliable option both in defensive midfield and centre-back roles.