Barcelona defender breaks own record after winning over Hansi Flick | OneFootball

Once seen as a surplus defender, Eric Garcia has completed a remarkable turnaround at FC Barcelona.

The former Man City star is currently the undisputed owner of the midfield pivot role, becoming an indispensable piece in Hansi Flick’s setup.

Through a mix of natural talent, tactical intelligence, and adaptability, Garcia has won over the German manager completely, reports SPORT.

His status is now so secure that he has managed to keep established stars like Frenkie de Jong on the bench, with Flick prioritising Garcia’s continuity and balance over the Dutchman’s flair.

Eric Garcia sets new benchmark for himself

Having won over the trust of Flick, Garcia is now setting new benchmarks, as far as his game time and importance at Barcelona are concerned.

Although we are yet to reach the halfway point of the season, Garcia has already accumulated 21 starts across all competitions.

Eric Garcia has been a standout performer for Barcelona this season. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

This figure has already surpassed his total from the entire previous campaign, where he managed just 19 starts.

Moreover, Garcia has clocked 1,861 minutes this season and needs just 243 more minutes – less than three full matches – to surpass the 2,104 minutes he played in the entirety of the 2024/25 season.

He is notably the only player to feature in all 24 matches for Barcelona this season.

Garcia’s next target will be to beat his personal best of 31 starts in a single Barcelona season, achieved in 2021/22 under Ronald Koeman and Xavi Hernandez.

With his current trajectory, he is well on track to make this a historic individual campaign, which in turn could help him potentially return to the national team fold as well.

The versatile defender last played for Spain in 2022. And in the last three years, he has not been anywhere near Spain’s plans. But given his performances this season, it won’t be surprising to see him return to the La Roja fold in the near future.