Tuesday is D Day in Barça's pursuit of Man City defender Eric Garcia
The management committee will meet to make a decision on what to do
Barcelona's management committee, led by acting president Carles Tusquets, will meet on Tuesday to finalise the date for the presidential election and to take a definitive decision on assuring the arrival of Eric Garcia for next season.
Tusquets met with the three candidates for the presidency -- Joan Laporta, Victor Font and Toni Freixa -- recently and everyone agreed that it was best to wait until the summer to sign Garcia.
The Spain international is available for a knock down price this month but he can sign for free at the end of the season when his contract expires.
Therefore, despite Barça coach Ronald Koeman wanting him now, a move in the winter window has been practically ruled out due to the club's financial situation.
Barça will instead have to look for a pre-contract agreement with Garcia that will be signed off by the next president when he's elected, with March 7 the likely date for the election.
The only way he ends up at Camp Nou in January would be if Victor Font can get the support of the other two candidates and the managing committee to push through a signing that would involve delayed payments until the next financial year.
Guardiola, pessimistic
Even though it's almost impossible that he signs for Barça this month, then, City coach Pep Guardiola has not closed the door on losing the defender in the coming days.
"I'm quite sure he will go at the end of the season. If he goes in this window will depend on other clubs," Guardiola said recently.
The former Barça coach added that "we still have to see how this window ends" and that "I don't think he will sign a new contract with City."
