Eric Garcia reveals who is Barcelona’s dressing room leader: ‘He has a lot of character’ | OneFootball

The Barcelona dressing room has often been defined by big personalities and vocal leaders, but according to Eric Garcia, the heartbeat of this current squad might not be who most fans expect. 

In a recent interview with DAZN, as reported by SPORT, the Spanish defender offered a revealing insight into the inner workings of the Barça locker room.

When asked to identify the team’s “quiet leader”, a figure who commands respect through character and presence, Garcia pointed towards Raphinha. 

Barcelona’s leader

While the Brazilian is widely known for his energy on the pitch, Garcia’s comments shed light on his importance behind the scenes as well.

Garcia explained the type of leadership he values within a squad: someone who contributes consistently, drives standards, and isn’t afraid to push teammates. 

“He’s not the kind of leader who’s so quiet and doesn’t stand out much, but I think it’s Raphinha. 

“He has a lot of character, and you often get annoyed with him because he sometimes goes overboard.

Raphinha is Barcelona’s leader. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

“But I think he has this hot-blooded nature that makes him run up and down the field the entire game as a player, helps us a lot on defence, and scores the goals he scores,” he said.

The centre-back did not stop there. He went on to explain just how highly he rates his teammate, especially after an impressive run of performances last season. 

“Given the season he had last year, he can be considered one of the best players in the world.”

Responsibilities at Barcelona

Alongside praising his teammate, Garcia also opened up about his own responsibilities within the group. 

Following Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s move to Girona a few months ago, the defender stepped into a more prominent leadership role as Barcelona’s fifth captain. 

Speaking about his approach to leadership, Garcia explained how supporting teammates has always been part of his identity as a footballer.

“Trying to help my teammates as much as possible comes naturally to me. I like to help them both on and off the field. I’ve been a captain since I was a kid,” he concluded.