Barça's Midfield Makeover: Aleix Garcia Takes the Spotlight
By Shree Desai
No one expected FC Barcelona to take Aleix Garcia seriously after his precarious statement before facing the Catalan giants. Xavi surely found the Spanish international's game impressive, but everyone concluded that the remarks were merely polite.
"Aleix? He’s a footballer that I like, he’s having a huge season. He has a lot of technical ability and the level to play here, to play for Barcelona. If he wants to play here? Who wouldn’t want to play for a big team like Barça?"
- Xavi (via Mundo Deportivo)
The midfielder gained attention after this statement, which he gave just before two crucial games for Girona, one of which was against Barcelona.
"I would like to play for Barcelona. It is the club that I have followed since I was little and the one that I have always liked."
People and media rubbed off the event, expecting it to only be a subject of gossip. Although the wheel has turned in Garcia's favor.
Aleix Garcia is Barcelona's Top Priority for January
According to Sport, Aleix is Barça's top priority to revise the club's midfield. The Ulldecona native has had a marvelous season at Girona. He has scored three and assisted four goals in eighteen games.
Aleix's release clause is €20 million, which might limit Barcelona's spending for the window considering they have already spent €30 million on Vitor Roque. Reports claim that Barça will try to have a swap deal.
🚨Un dels OBJECTIUS del BARÇA pel mercat d’hivern és ALEIX GARCIA, jugador del @GironaFC i que té clàusula al voltant dels 20M.
— Nil Solà (@Nilsola10) December 28, 2023
Desig de LAPORTA i agrada a Xavi per reforçar el mig del camp, tal com ha explicat @JijantesFC.
ROMEU i/o PABLO TORRE poden entrar a l’operació. pic.twitter.com/xfOYKMtS6K
Which roughly translates to..
"🚨One of BARÇA's OBJECTIVES for the winter market is ALEIX GARCIA, player of the
@GironaFC
and that has a clause around 20M. LAPORTA's desire and Xavi likes to strengthen the midfield, as he has explained
@JijantesFC
. ROMEU and/or PABLO TORRE can enter the operation."
It clearly pushes the fact that either Pablo Torre or Oriol Romeu will be a part of the swap deal. Since Pablo is on a loan deal at Girona without a buy option, his situation becomes complicated. Oriol Romeu makes sense as he wasn't considered a long-term replacement for Busquets, anyway.