Manchester City, led by Pep Guardiola, is in the midst of future planning. The Catalan coach, always alert to market movements, has marked a target he knows perfectly well and who could become one of the major deals for 2026.
This isn't the first time Guardiola has set his sights on LaLiga players, but this time the situation is special. This is someone trained at La Masia, with international experience and whose contract is approaching a key date.
Uncertain future at Camp Nou
FC Barcelona has several open fronts in its squad. Between pending contract renewals and young players demanding prominence, there's a player whose continuity is in doubt. Hansi Flick has expressly requested his contract renewal, but the reality is that Deco hasn't started talks yet to extend his contract.
The current contract ends in June 2026, which means that starting January 1, 2026, he'll be free to negotiate with anyone who wants to sign him. This is a delicate situation that hasn't gone unnoticed in Europe and Pep Guardiola intends to take advantage of it...
From promise to reality in European soccer
This player already knows what it's like to compete at the elite level. He has proven to be a versatile defender, able to play both in the center of the backline and as a full-back. That versatility is highly valued in modern soccer, even more so in a team as demanding as Manchester City.
His career has taken a positive turn in recent months. Although he was trained as a center-back, he has managed to establish himself as a great right-back, providing defensive reliability and good decision-making with the ball. This is a profile that fits what Guardiola is looking for: footballers capable of adapting to several positions and keeping a high level of demand.
Guardiola willing to repeat history
In England, people know that Guardiola rarely makes mistakes with his bets. In his first spell at City, he trusted a young Spanish defender who arrived with great potential. That footballer grew under his guidance, gaining experience in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
Now, years later, "Madrid-Barcelona" can announce that Guardiola wants to repeat history with the same protagonist: Eric García. The Catalan knows him like few others and trusts that, in full footballing maturity, he can become a reliable reinforcement for a champion that's clearly declined.
From Barça to City
Barça must decide. If Deco doesn't speed up negotiations, Eric García could leave for free in 2026, something that at Camp Nou they want to avoid at all costs. Hansi Flick has already made it clear that he's one of his favorite wild cards and that keeping him is a priority.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola waits. He does so convinced that Eric García is the ideal footballer to strengthen his defense for Manchester City's immediate future. In any case, the youth academy product gives total and absolute priority to his dream of continuing and succeeding wearing Barça's jersey. But it doesn't depend only on him and in Manchester they've already opened the door to a return.