While it has been a significant time since the end of last season, FC Barcelona squad for the upcoming season is yet to take its final shape. There have been some additions to this squad, and a number of players are expected to leave before the next campaign begins.
One of the questions in the minds of most people following the Catalan club is whether Eric Garcia would be in contention for significant game time in the already stacked backline. As SPORT reports, Xavi tends to have his squads without any clutter, involving only the players he can count upon during a season.
At this time, the Barcelona gaffer has five center-backs at his disposal, while he can also call up another highly talented defender from the B team when the opportunity or need arises.
These five first-team center-backs are Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Garcia, and the latest arrival, Inigo Martinez. Chadi Riad, who recently won the U-23 African Cup with Morocco, can also be called up from the youth side.
From among these players, Kounde was the one with the highest league minutes (2428), followed by Araujo (1804), Christensen (1764), Eric Garcia (1414), and Pique (334). While this number of minutes is not little by any standards, Garcia was called up by Xavi only in less important matches or when another starting center-back was not available.
Inigo Martinez’s arrival this summer further complicates matters for Garcia, as he could be the fifth-placed center-back in this changed situation. If Barcelona decide to sell one of their defenders, Garcia would be the main candidate for a potential exit.
One silver lining for Garcia could be the fact that Inigo Martinez has still not fully recovered from the injuries that he has been suffering from for a year. The player has not been given a deadline but believes he is recovering from this issue.
Thus, if Martinez is unable to play in the pre-season and the early phase of next season, Garcia would have a better opportunity of getting in the squad than he does now. Still, he will be the fourth-placed center-back in the squad, which is not an estimable position for any player.
