Flick holds €20m-rated Barcelona defender in high regard, could start him vs Girona

After a fine season away on loan at Girona last season, Eric Garcia returned to FC Barcelona in the summer, hoping to nail down a spot in the team.

However, participating in the Olympics with the Spanish national team meant that Eric did not do any pre-season under new manager Hansi Flick, which put him at somewhat of a disadvantage.

Four games into the season, Garcia has not had a significant role for Barça, playing just 55 minutes via three substitute appearances.

Garcia likely to gain more prominence

However, now, according to SPORT, Eric Garcia could gain more prominence in Hansi Flick’s in the matches to come, starting from Sunday’s Catalan derby between Barcelona and Girona.

Garcia will be back at ‘his second home’ in Girona, where he enjoyed a successful spell last season, leading the team into the Champions League. And, it could prove to be the turning point in his season.

After playing brief roles in the first two games, speculation about Garcia’s potential departure before the transfer window closed began to intensify. His absence vs Rayo Vallecano due to a minor injury only fueled the fire further.

A return to Girona was heavily touted, but Marc Bernal’s injury pretty much shut the doors on the 23-year-old’s exit as Flick decided that he wanted Garcia to continue in his squad.

Flick is said to hold the ex-Manchester City man in high regard. His versatility – valuable to the German coach in his role as a defensive pivot, centre-back, or even as a full-back if needed -made him indispensable.

Looking forward, the plan is for Eric to gradually integrate into the team and earn starting opportunities. With a packed schedule and limited midfielders available, the team faces a heavy load of minutes.

Marc Casado stepped in as a pivot against Valladolid and performed admirably. However, after the Girona match, Barcelona will face a Champions League debut against AS Monaco.

As such, there is a possibility that Flick could opt for Garcia against Girona to keep Casado fresh for the AS Monaco game.

Another possibility is resting Pau Cubarsi, who has played two full matches during the international break, while Inigo Martinez is arriving with more rest. As such, a pairing of Eric and Inigo could be a realistic option.