‘If there are significant offers‘… Deco reveals what he told 24-year-old Barcelona defender’s agent last summer | OneFootball

FC Barcelona’s 2024/25 season has seen several unexpected names rise to the occasion, with Hansi Flick’s debut campaign bringing new life to overlooked talents. One of the standout surprises has been Eric Garcia, a player once on the fringes who has now become a vital cog in Flick’s flexible system.

He returned to Barcelona after an impressive loan spell with Girona and it seems to have done him the world of good.

Eric Garcia’s comeback story

Eric started the season providing cover in defensive midfield, often being used in rotation whenever one of Pedri or Marc Casado needed a break. The absence of Frenkie de Jong and Marc Bernal through injury necessitated the same.

Eric Garcia has been very dependable for Barcelona this season. (Source: DataMB)

Once the midfield depth returned, Eric was then used as a central defender and he showed amazing understanding of the high-line and the offside trap. To finish the season, the 24-year-old has been playing as a right-back, which actually seems to be his best position.

As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Deco has revealed that once Eric returned from Girona last summer, the club always considered him an important player, but that he did tell his agent that if an offer comes for the 24-year-old to play regularly, the club would understand. He said:

“I have a lot of trust in his agent, Iván de la Peña, who is a friend. When he returned from his loan at Girona, he came back much more confident, and I told Iván: let him stay here. If there are significant offers where Eric can play regularly, I understand — but for us, he is a very important player.“

However, Deco reiterated that he would like the player to stay at Barcelona going forward. He continued:

“It’s not easy to have a great match and then return to the bench. He has helped us a lot, and of course, we want him to stay.”

Eric has been a Swiss-Knife for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona. He has answered the call of his manager and has not complained about the minutes that he gets. At 24, he is maturing in terms of his game and it is a good call that the club decided to retain him.

Eric is a true warrior for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Trustable, adaptable and committed

It is almost impossible to find someone this versatile and equally comfortable in the system in the market. Not every player in the squad needs to be a starter week in and week out and it bodes well for Barcelona that Eric can provide 3-in-1 depth.

Eric Garcia has proven his value not by demanding the spotlight, but by consistently delivering wherever he’s needed: be it in midfield, central defence, or at right-back. At just 24, he’s showing maturity, tactical intelligence, and a selfless attitude that every squad needs.

Barcelona would be wise to resist outside interest and secure his future, knowing they have a rare kind of player on their hands: one who combines quiet consistency with high adaptability. His role may not always make headlines, but his presence makes a difference and that’s invaluable for a team looking to compete on all fronts.