Full agreement between Barca and Eric García
According to 'Sport', Barcelona now have an agreement with Eric García for his signing as a free agent in June. However, Barca will try and move his signing forward to January.
Eric García will be a Barcelona player. The question is when. 'Sport' published on their front cover that Barca have reached an agreement with the player for his signing as a free agent.
Let's remember that the centre-back's contract ends on 30th June, therefore Barca started to negotiate with Eric and his agent to ensure they got a yes from 1st January.
The club can technically announce him now, although the agreement can't be rubber-stamped until the elections take place on 25th January. The Management Board has no power to do so, so we have to wait for the new president.
However, the aforementioned media says that Barca's wish is to bring forward his arrival to January. The conditions of Eric García's contract are agreed, but if they do so, they would have to convince Manchester City too.
Barca already tried to sign the 19-year-old defender in the summer, but Manchester City rejected the 10 million euros that they offered. Three months later and aware that in six he will go for free, Barca believe that they are in a better position to cheapen his exit.
Barca are aware that their defensive situation is dramatic and the signing of Eric García seems essential to cover the serious injury of Gerard Piqué. What remains to be seen is the financial capacity that the club has to undertake the deal.
If this happens, it will have to be the same from 24th January. Then there will be a margin of only one week for City to let the player go. Bartomeu was unable to do so in the summer and this task will be for the next president of FC Barcelona.