The 2018-19 EFL Cup quarter final is unlikely to stick too much in the mind of Manchester City fans.
The Blues prevailed at Leicester City on penalties on their way to lifting the trophy as part of a domestic clean sweep. Yet for two then talented teenagers it was a landmark occasion.
Eric Garcia made his debut that night and the midfielder was joined in the side by Brahim Diaz, who had already broken through at the Etihad, in what would be his last appearance for the club. At the time both were highly rated yet neither forced themselves into a first team fixture at City.
Despite not making the senior grade at the Etihad the trajectory of both has taken the pair to the heights of the European game. Diaz joined Real Madrid a matter of weeks after the Leicester contest and Garcia followed him to Spain in 2021 when he joined Barcelona.
Tonight the pair could face off in El Clasico, arguably the biggest game in club football. Both have had injury concerns over the past few weeks and while Diaz looks likely to win his fitness battle, Garcia’s availability is less certain.
Nonetheless, for a pair of City prospects, the occasion and rise to the top of European football is proof that City have long spotted top talents. As Pep Guardiola said to then Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman when Garcia departed: “Eric is an outstanding signing. First of all because he is a gem of a guy, so clever. But he is also really hungry to learn more and more and absorbs everything. You will see how, some years on, he will become a club captain at Barcelona.”
Garcia spoke about his decision to leave City and the lure of Barca. “I don’t regret it,” Garcia said. “I took this decision as a ‘culer’ (Barcelona fan). I’ve been a Barcelona fan since I was a kid, the dream of my life had always been to play for the first team. When you are from here, it’s very complicated to say no to Barcelona.”
Diaz had a similar thought process when leaving in 2019. “I had three options after deciding to leave Manchester City. One, play at Real Madrid, two, play at Real Madrid and three, play at Real Madrid. It was impossible to go anywhere else,” he said.
From a January night at the King Power, to Real vs Barca. It’s been quite a journey.