Does Manchester City buying Nathan Aké push Eric García closer to Barcelona?

Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images

A defender reshuffle?

Manchester City has secured the transfer of Nathan Aké from Bournemouth. according to reports. The 25-year-old will cost 40 million pounds sterling, a significant investment for a defender in these times.

Does his signing push Eric García closer to his former club, FC Barcelona?

The Catalans’ interest in García is well-known at this point. They want the defender to return to the club which helped develop him as a youngster. His tale reminds them of that of Gerard Piqué, who left Barcelona as a youngster to play in Manchester, only to return and become a club legend at the Camp Nou.

Aké is left-footed, so there is a suspicion he is being brought in purely to be Aymeric Laporte’s backup. García is right-footed, so perhaps there is no connection between the two players’ cases.

At least one report though, does say that Aké’s signing is a way to cover the potential departure of García.

⚠️ El Manchester City ficha al central Nathan Aké. El conjunto inglés se cubre las espaldas por la posible marcha de Eric Garcia al Barça #fcblive pic.twitter.com/A4ZWzBWVFt

— Albert Rogé (@albert_roge) July 30, 2020

Source: barcablaugranes.com