Guardiola confirms Garcia is set to quit Man City in the summer

The Spanish center-back was missing from the Sky Blues squad on Sunday as they clinched their fourth successive Carabao Cup title.

Pep Guardiola expects “one of his favorite players” Eric Garcia to join FC Barcelona on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Garcia turned down a contract extension offer from Man City last summer in favor of returning to Barcelona, having developed in the Catalan giants’ famed youth academy before moving to the Etihad in 2017.

The defenders has sparingly been used this season, limited to just two Premier League starts and just 10 appearances in all competitions, amid intense competition from John Stones, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, and Nathan Ake.

“There are players even who don’t play any matches. I think, for example, of Eric Garcia who is one of my favourite players,” Guardiola told after Man City’s 1-0 Carabao Cup final win over Tottenham, reports Sky Sports.

“I would love to have 15 Eric Garcias for the way he conducts his behaviour. He is always thinking of the team. He’s always a good face in the good or bad moments. He helps the manager and the backroom staff all the time.

“He will go in an incredible team and when the people say they are unsatisfied if I don’t play, I think of Eric.

“Most of the time he’s not on the bench because he’s going to move to Barcelona, I hope so. It’s tough, but it is what it is.”