Barcelona head coach Xavi has on Friday confirmed his hopes of a member of the club's loan army linking back up with his squad for next season.

The player in question? Eric Garcia.

The name of defender Garcia has of course taken its place front and centre in the headlines in Catalunya over the course of recent days.

This comes after the former Manchester City man revealed that, prior to his departure for Girona last summer, Xavi made clear that he wanted Garcia to remain at his disposal.

Speaking in an interview with Diario Sport, the 23-year-old explained:

"That's right (Xavi didn't want me to go). It happened on the last day due to a 'fair play' issue and I was clear that if I left, it would be to go to Girona."

Ahead of the impending La Liga showdown between the two clubs this weekend, it therefore came as little surprise when the same subject was put to Barcelona's headmaster himself.

And Xavi, after confirming Garcia's version of events, went on to add that his plan is to reintegrate the Spanish international into his ranks for the 2024/25 campaign:

"He had to leave due to fair play issues, but he had room this year and would have helped us."

"The idea is for him to return to Barca. I didn't want him to leave."

Xavi, sobre Eric Garcia

"La idea es que vuelva al Barca. Yo no queria que se fuera"

"Tuvo que irse por tema de fair play, pero tenia sitio este ano y nos hubiera ayudado"

#PartidazoCOPE pic.twitter.com/HISXDMqmP2

- El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope) May 3, 2024 Conor Laird | GSFN

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