From nearly gone to backbone: €25m Barcelona star’s inspiring comeback story | OneFootball

Had someone told us a year ago that Eric Garcia would be the starting centre-back of FC Barcelona against PSG in a big Champions League game, there is no doubt we would have ridiculed that person.

However, fast forward a year, and that is exactly what happened a week ago. Eric not only started the game against the French giants but also emerged as arguably Barcelona’s best player on the pitch. He did not put a foot wrong.

Back in the January 2025 transfer window, Eric was inches away from securing an exit from the Catalan club, but it was Hansi Flick who vetoed the move. The German coach was adamant about keeping hold of the 24-year-old, and it has certainly paid off.

In the second half of last season, the €25 million-rated Spaniard established himself as a Swiss army knife for Hansi Flick, playing wherever required and being instrumental in a number of comebacks. He had an uncanny knack for finding himself in goalscoring situations.

Garcia played defensive midfield, centre-back, and right-back, ensuring that there was no quality drop-off in any position whenever Flick gave him the opportunity. In arguably Barcelona’s most important game last season, against Inter Milan, he played at right-back after Kounde’s injury.

At the end of the 2024/25 season, Barcelona fans were very happy with Eric Garcia and understood his importance to Flick’s team. He was touted to be the ultimate squad player, an upgraded version of Sergi Roberto.

More than just a Swiss knife for Barcelona

Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

Not many people imagined, though, that Eric’s career trajectory would take another step and that he would become even better than just a squad player. Since the start of the 2025/26 season, that is exactly what has happened.

Eric started the season at right-back ahead of Jules Kounde and looked flawless. Subsequently, Flick gave him the chance to start in his favoured centre-back role, and the Spaniard showed maturity like never before.

While his lack of pace and his relatively diminutive physical appearance were considered undesirable qualities for a centre-back, Eric has shown that playing in that position needs more than just that; sheer intelligence can help you thrive.

Without a doubt, one of the most intelligent footballers around, Eric almost always knows where to be on the pitch to stop an opposition attack, holds the high line to a T, and his passing out of the back has proven to be a cheat code.

It was no coincidence that Barcelona started playing so much better against Sevilla in their recent game after Eric was brought on in the second half. At this rate, he is establishing himself as an indispensable figure for Hansi Flick.

All this begs the question: just how high is Eric’s ceiling? Once considered a sellable player, he then transitioned into a valuable squad player during Hansi Flick’s first season, almost acting as the German coach’s joker card.

Subsequently, Eric took yet another step, slowly but surely establishing himself as a starter for Barcelona. For the boy who left Manchester City to return to his roots in 2020, his dreams of becoming a Blaugrana star are finally coming true.

Considering how things have gone so far, one cannot put it past the 24-year-old to unlock another level to his game and get even better than he is right now. This time, however, we will not be surprised but will be around to support him to the fullest.