ERIC GARCIA HITS OUT AT CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OFFICIATING FOLLOWING BARCELONA’S BITTER QUARTER-FINAL EXIT
Barcelona are out of the Champions League. Eric Garcia reflects on the red card, refereeing, and the La Liga title.
Barcelona really looked like they were about to snatch a late goal against Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals last week. Everything was set for a dramatic finish, but that just wasn’t in the cards.
Right when it felt like Barcelona were gearing up for one last push, Eric Garcia got sent off for a foul that honestly seemed pretty minimal; he wasn’t even the last man back. It fit the tone of the night, though. The referee’s decision didn’t shock anyone. It just felt like another blow in a game where everything went against Barcelona, and once Garcia was off, there was no coming back.
Garcia talked about all of this at a recent event. He spoke to the press and opened up about the red card and how the refereeing seemed to change everything.
“In these competitions, you need a bit of luck. It just wasn’t going our way at all,” he said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
He didn’t blame the referees for everything, but he admitted there were some strange calls he couldn’t wrap his head around. When someone asked if the officials had been extra harsh with Barcelona, he just shrugged: “That’s how it goes sometimes. Usually, we get it tough, and other teams don’t. That’s football.”
Thinking back to that second leg, Garcia remembered moments when Barcelona really believed they could turn things around, especially when the score was still 0-2. “We believed in ourselves then. The team showed a good image. We’re learning, even though we don’t have much experience at this level, and we need to keep getting used to these kinds of games.”
Despite the disappointment, Garcia stayed upbeat about the season, especially with La Liga still within reach. “Now, we’re focused on La Liga. We’re in a good spot, and the sooner we can seal it, the better. It’s a reward for being consistent. We’ve played really well all year.”
He admitted the loss to Atletico stings, especially since they also knocked Barcelona out of the Copa del Rey. “It hurts because of the way it happened, but it doesn’t take away from what we’ve achieved so far.”
The guard of honour topic came up, too: if they win the league before El Clásico, would Real Madrid give them that traditional respect? Garcia grinned. “If they do it, it’s because we’ve already won it. As I said, I just want to win as soon as we can.”
And if the roles were reversed, would Barcelona honour Real Madrid? Garcia was clear: “If someone beats you, you have to show respect. If it were us, we’d do it for any rival.”
People also asked about his World Cup chances, since he missed out on the last Spain squad. “Everyone knows there’s a World Cup, and I’d love to be there. All I can do is give my best every game, and if the coach calls me, I’ll be delighted.”
RAFAEL LEAO OFFERED TO BARCELONA FOR €50M AS MILAN FAVORS A SUMMER EXIT
Rafael Leao is back on Barcelona’s radar at a massive discount. Discover why Deco and Laporta are split on the move.
Barcelona want a new left-sided forward this summer, but it’s still a mystery who they’ll actually go after. Back when 2026 kicked off, everyone was pretty sure Marcus Rashford would stick around on a permanent deal. Now, though, the club’s not so sure, and things feel a lot less clear.
They've got the option to buy Rashford for €30 million, thanks to the terms of his loan. But lately, rumours suggest Barcelona might chase a younger, cheaper player instead. Spanish outlet Sport says the club plans to meet soon with Rashford’s agent and brother, so we’ll see if that clears anything up. They’re also still considering names like Andreas Schjelderup, Ez Abde, and Jan Virgili as possible alternatives.
And now, in a new twist, Barcelona has apparently been offered the chance to sign Rafael Leao from AC Milan. According to Corriere della Sella (via the Barcelona press), there’s interest because Leao’s situation at Milan has changed; he’s no longer in favour, and the Italian club wants to move him before his contract runs out in 2028. His asking price has dropped, too. Instead of the €100 million that shut Barcelona out in the past, Milan might let him go for as little as €50 million. That’s way more tempting.
Barcelona’s watched Leao for a while. A couple of summers ago, while they were trying to land Nico Williams, Leao’s name kept coming up. He’s represented by Jorge Mendes, who always seems to be involved in Barça business, and President Joan Laporta is a pretty big fan. Still, things got held up. Deco, the club’s director of football, wasn’t wild about Leao’s work off the ball, and the transfer fee felt crazy high.
Leao’s numbers this season aren’t bad. He’s scored 10 goals and picked up two assists in 25 games, though he’s only started 20 of them. So, with his price finally within reach, maybe Barcelona will finally make a move. That is, if they don’t decide to stick with Rashford or gamble on someone younger.
BARCELONA PUTS MARCUS RASHFORD’S £26M PERMANENT TRANSFER "ON ICE" EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
Man Utd face a wage crisis as Marcus Rashford’s move to Barcelona stalls over financial constraints and salary caps.
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Marcus Rashford’s permanent move from Manchester United to Barcelona seems to have hit the brakes as the Catalan club reassess their plans for next season. They initially viewed Rashford’s experience as a key addition to support the young players they’re nurturing, but retaining Robert Lewandowski in that veteran role is now looking more likely.
Lewandowski was expected to leave, yet Barcelona have opened the door for him to stay, offering a new contract, though on less favourable terms. The financial impact of signing Rashford might complicate Barca’s other transfer ambitions, as the board weighs their options carefully.
Despite Hansi Flick’s wish to keep Rashford at Camp Nou, Barcelona appear to be holding off on the deal, partly due to challenges around his wage demands, according to reports in Sport. Rashford is reportedly willing to take a significant pay cut, nearly halving his salary through a longer-term contract, but even so, it could stretch the club’s wage budget.
A £26 million fee has reportedly been agreed for Rashford’s transfer, yet the total cost of his package has raised some eyebrows. There’s concern that making Rashford’s stay permanent might limit Barca’s ability to sign a defender and forward unless they offload other players.
Barcelona are reportedly exploring alternatives with profiles similar to Rashford, including Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup, Osasuna’s Victor Munoz, and Mallorca's Jan Virgili. With Lewandowski likely to stick around, these options might gain more traction.
Their pursuit of defender Alessandro Bastoni and a ‘world-class’ centre-forward could also shape the outcome, but things remain uncertain. How Rashford finishes this season might still influence what comes next.
So far, Rashford has scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona. He’s made it clear he’d prefer to stay.
“Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca,” he told Sport earlier. “It’s the end goal, but it’s not the reason why I’m training hard and giving it my best. The purpose is to win. Barca is a huge, fantastic club, built to win titles.”
Lewandowski, who turns 38 this summer, has been offered a contract with half his current fixed salary. As a Bundesliga legend, he still wants clarity regarding his role, and several clubs have shown interest in signing him on a free transfer.
Meanwhile, Rashford remains under contract at Manchester United until 2028 and faces an awkward return if Barcelona doesn't finalise the deal. His £325,000-a-week wages don’t fit well within United’s current structure, which favours incentive-driven contracts with lower basic pay. That could create some tension behind the scenes.
