When the transfer window closed on Monday, Barcelona were left disappointed after they failed to sign Eric García.
The La Liga side made a last attempt on deadline day and their latest offer, worth €18m (€10m + €8m variables), was rejected by Manchester City because the proposal didn’t meet their demands.
Pep Guardiola’s side ‘did not give in’ even after the 19-year-old tried to convince the Citizens to let him leave the Etihad. The centre-back’s contract lasts until 2021.
Mundo Deportivo provides details of what happened after City stood firm on their stance and what Barca will do to sign him in the future.
It’s claimed the Spain international offered to lower his salary so that it could help the Blaugrana to raise their offer to meet the Premier League club’s demands.
Ronald Koeman’s side thanked the youngster for his effort, but didn’t accept the proposal, given that he would be available on a free transfer next summer or for a cheaper price in January.
Despite García’s contract situation, City stood firm and demanded a €20m fee. The Premier League club’s ‘attitude’ has ‘generated an understandable anger in Eric Garcia and his closest environment’.
Barcelona and the player ended the transfer window ‘disappointed’, but the ‘anger’ of the Spanish side and the defender doesn’t stop their desire to ‘unite their destinies’ as soon as possible.
With a contract expiring next summer, García will be allowed to sign a pre-contract with Barcelona from January 2021.
The Catalan club want to close an agreement with the player at the start of next year and then figure out whether to sign him in the winter market by agreeing a lower fee with City or take him on free transfer next summer.
If Mundo’s report is to be believed, García will be a Barcelona player in less than 12 months. Whether it will be in January or next summer remains to be seen.
