With Nathan Aké’s move to Manchester City, it seems like the Premier League side has decided to upgrade their centre-backs instead of planning on Eric García playing a bigger role next season. Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones are more likely to leave than the young Catalan defender, but that doesn’t mean that he would get more playing time with their departures. Aké and Aymeric Laporte should be the undisputed starters, though Laporte can’t stay healthy. If the Basque defender can stay on the field, García could see even less time next year. Aké and Laporte are both in their mid-20s, so it’s not like García would feel like he’s the future at the Etihad.
Obviously the place where he could feel like the future is at the Camp Nou, where the future of the centre-back position is full of question marks. Let’s look at his competition:
- Gerard Piqué – 33-years-old – He had a tremendous season in terms of his timing, positioning, and effort, but his lack of pace becomes more and more of an issue by the match. He probably has another year or two left at the Camp Nou, and the timeline for García is perfect to step in as Piqué’s successor. Yet, I’m not sure it’s the best-case scenario more it is a fantasy narrative – the Catalan defender from La Masia who cut his teeth in Manchester returns as one of the best centre-backs in the world. Just because this happened with Piqué doesn’t mean it has to happen with García.
- Clément Lenglet – 25-years-old – García is right-footed and Lenglet is left-footed, so this shouldn’t be seen as direct competition. For any of Barcelona’s centre-back options next season, you could easily make the argument that Lenglet is the one untouchable player.
- Samuel Umtiti – 26-years-old – For two summers now Culés have waited to see something come to fruition over the Umtiti transfer rumors, but with the club so strapped for cash at the moment, it seems like now is finally the time. Much has been written of his fateful ‘World Cup or surgery’ decision in 2018, and it’s a real shame that his Blaugrana career has worked out the way it did.
- Jean-Clair Todibo – 20-years-old – Speaking of strapped for cash, there is little evidence to support Todibo remaining at the Camp Nou next season. Of all the potential players on the market, the French defender is one of Barcelona’s best options to balance the books. But why would the club sell a promising right-footed centre-back just to buy a promising right-footed centre-back? The answer is anyone’s guess.
- Ronald Araújo – 21-years-old – The Uruguayan is naturally right-footed, but he did show that he can deputize on the left as well. I’m still concerned about his ability to play the ball on the floor at the highest level, but defensively, he would be the perfect complement to a García-type. Araújo was recently cited as one of the quickest players in all of La Liga and drew premature comparisons to Raphael Varane. His speed and ability to stop a counter-attack are tools that Barcelona’s defense have been without of late. Add to that his aerial prowess on set-pieces and Araújo is, at least on paper, turning into one of the best third defenders or fill-in starters a team could ask for.
The romantic narrative of García’s Barcelona return aside, now might be the right time for the club to make their move for the player. With his contract up next summer and the player’s entourage balking at a new deal, he could be available at a reasonable price, even in the time of the pandemic. The 19-year-old isn’t particularly quick or good in the air, but he does bring a calmness and technical skill that would fit like a glove next to Lenglet or Araújo.
The worst-case scenario though is another bout of buyer’s remorse. For every Piqué, there has been a Cesc Fabregas. Hindsight is a tough critic, and watching Todibo flourish elsewhere if García doesn’t realize his potential at Barcelona would be a bad look.
The most important aspect of this possible transfer (from a Barcelona perspective) is the finances, obviously. Every euro will be needed to reinforce other areas of the squad, and there is no assurance that a mass exodus of players will bring in major money, or even happen at all. Barça could miss out on the young Catalan not because the timing is wrong for him, but because the timing is wrong for the club.
After Araújo, there might be some other centre-back options available with Barcelona B, a team that should see a massive overhaul in the next few weeks. That said, García’s potential is higher than these other choices at the moment.
Dan Hilton is an American journalist, broadcaster, and current Editor-in-Chief of BarcaBlog. Extensive work as a play-by-play broadcaster, producer behind the scenes, and quite average player in his younger years has given him a well-rounded and informative perspective on the sport. Alongside BarcaBlog founder Francesc, Dan started The Barcelona Podcast in 2017.
