Barcelona head coach Xavi has revealed that the plan is for Eric Garcia to return to Camp Nou this summer and battle for a first-team position during the 2023-24 campaign.
The 23-year-old joined Girona on loan from Barcelona last summer, and he has been in outstanding form for the Catalan outfit this season, making 26 appearances, scoring three times in the process.
Garcia has played a key role in Girona's success in La Liga, with Michel's side currently third in the table, just two points behind second-placed Barcelona ahead of Saturday's clash between the two sides.
There have been suggestions that the Spaniard could move to Girona permanently this summer, but Xavi has revealed that the club are planning for his return at the end of the campaign.
"He had a place at Barca. He didn't want him to leave, it was a matter of fair play. We want him to come back," the Barcelona boss told reporters during Friday's press conference.
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Eric Garcia is wanted back at Barcelona this summer
Garcia came through the youth system at Barcelona before joining Manchester City in 2017, and he went on to represent the Premier League side on 35 occasions ahead of a switch back to Camp Nou.
The centre-back featured 70 times for Barcelona before moving to Girona on loan, and it appears that he is firmly in Xavi's plans at the club moving forward.
Barcelona need to beat Girona on Saturday to stay in the La Liga title race, as dropped points in the Catalan derby, coupled with a Real Madrid win over Cadiz, would see Carlo Ancelotti's side confirmed as champions with four games spare.
"This will be a vital match. Their confidence is through the roof, we must congratulate them, their season is magnificent at an extraordinary level," Xavi added when asked about this weekend's opponents.
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Xavi looking for "revenge" against Girona
The Barcelona boss has also said that his side will "seek revenge" on Saturday, having suffered a 4-2 defeat in the reverse match earlier this season.
"A Girona of champions. It will be an intense match, they have a lot of mobility on the pitch and are fantastic in one-against-one. It has been an exceptional season," he added.
"There is no rivalry with Michel but we seek revenge for the first round. They were very forceful, we did not adjust well, we did not defend well in the area.
"We have been competing very well for three months. We have improved in many facets. The way we are competing lately, this is the way, there is no other."
Barcelona will enter the clash with Girona off the back of a 4-2 win over Valencia, with the result following successive losses to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
Matt Law
