Barcelona announced some very good news on Friday when they confirmed that Eric Garcia has agreed to sign a new contract until 2031, ending the rumors of a departure to Paris Saint-Germain and securing the future of a player who has suddenly become a crucial part of the team.
Eric has stepped up massively in the last couple of months and has become one of the first names on the teamsheet no matter what position he needs to play: Garcia has shined at center-back, right-back and even as a defensive midfielder recently, and he has certainly earned a new deal as he’s become the latest player to reach a whole other level under Hansi Flick.
And his coach is very happy: speaking at a press conference on Friday the coach was full of praise for the 24-year-old’s versatility and thinks there’s much more to come from the defender, who Flick sees as a potential new captain in the not-too-distant future.
“At the level he is at, he is fantastic. He knows this club very well, he deserves to renew. He is very important in the dressing room. He could be captain in the future, he gives everything for this club.
“From the beginning of the season, we could already see his potential; at first he suffered injuries, but in the end he’s a very professional player, it’s great to see. When you want to be a leader, it’s also important to have discipline and give everything for the team, it doesn’t matter if you play as a full-back, pivot… I’m very happy for him, he deserves to renew his contract and it’s good news for everyone.”
Eric has always struggled to gain the full confidence of his previous coaches and certainly Barça fans, but only the stubborn ones are still unwilling to admit that Eric is playing out of his mind right now and will be a huge asset for the Blaugrana for years to come.
