Barcelona centre-back Eric Garcia is confident that his loan move to Girona will benefit him in the long run.

The Spaniard came through the youth system at Barcelona before moving to Manchester City in 2017, spending four years with the Premier League outfit before returning to Camp Nou in 2021.

Garcia has been a regular for the Catalan giants since his return, featuring on 36 occasions during the 2021-22 campaign before making another 32 appearances in 2022-23.

The 22-year-old was also involved in two of Barcelona's first three league games of the new season against Cadiz and Villarreal.

However, with Inigo Martinez back to fitness, Garcia would have dropped further down the pecking order, and Barcelona boss Xavi is thought to have made it clear that starts would be rare this term.

Garcia left Barcelona on loan on transfer deadline day, with Girona securing his services for the 2023-24 season.

The defender is confident that the White and Reds will provide him with the perfect environment to progress, and he is looking forward to playing under the team's head coach Michel.

"When I spoke to the coach it was very clear to me. He told me how he saw me and how he thought I could help the team," Mundo Deportivo quotes Garcia as saying.

"His way of seeing football is the same way I have coached in my previous teams and I thought it was a good opportunity.

"As I said, it was one of the keys. I like the style of play and I'm used to it. I think I can contribute a lot.

"I'm very excited, to be honest. I think it could be a very good season for me and I will try to help the team as much as possible."

Garcia's debut for Girona, who are second in the La Liga table on 10 points, could potentially come against Granada on September 18.

Spanish midfielder Pablo Torre was also loaned to Girona from Barcelona during the summer window.