Laporte's injury opens the door for Eric Garcia

The defender, who has been called up for the Spanish Under-21 National Team for the 2021 Euro's qualifying matches against Kazakhstan and Montenegro, had a great European Under-19 last summer - where he was proclaimed champion with Spain - after having already tasted the Honeys of playing in the elite in three games of the League Cup, but now it's time to do so in the Premier League.

With the exits of the Belgian, Vincent Kompany - former captain fro Manchester City and Sandler (Anderlecht) and the Frenchman Mangala (Valencia), Pep is left with three central defenders in his squad for the current season, Eric Garcia was already working as a centre-back and playing with the U23 team when he was not required for the first team.

After injury to the cartilage and meniscus of Laporte's right leg, the young, promising Spaniard sees how the doors open to prove his worth at the highest level, an opportunity he was looking for after the summer of 2017 when he decided to leave the Barcelona squad and come to Manchester.

Eric stands out for his good ball out, marking in the box and asks Guardiola to let him be part of the team, his speed to reach the other end and even his strength in the air despite not being a high centre-back (1.87 meters).

The Spaniard will have to compete with the Brazilian Fernandinho - central midefielder, but Pep has used him in the centre-back position before - and with his team mate in City's Under-23's, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who has also had minutes during the preseason, but he will certainly be a key piece in the coming months for an important position in the Catalan coach's playing style.