Midfielder Manu Garcia has moved to Deportivo Alaves on loan for the season, the newly-promoted La Liga side has announced on their website. The youngster is one of the more highly-rated members of City’s academy, and is being given the chance to develop back in his home country.
However, even though Alaves earned promotion from the Segunda Division to the Primera Division as champions last year, it seems unlikely that – at least to begin with – Garcia will get a chance to prove himself in the top flight. The Babazorros have also confirmed that he will take a place in the B team squad for the coming year.
Garcia made his senior debut for City last year, after joining the club in 2013. He appeared domestically rather than continentally, including making his league bow against Aston Villa in March, coming on as a late sub. He also had cameo appearances in the League Cup against Crystal Palace and Sunderland late last year, scoring against The Eagles, while he got his first start in the 5-1 defeat at Chelsea in the FA Cup six months ago.
Now, he will get his chance to develop under Mauricio Pellegrini at Alaves, and will hope his chances of breaking into the City first-team on a more regular basis are greatly improved next year.
The 18-year-old joins another Blue at Deportivo Alaves, in the form of Ruben Sobrino. The forward completed a move to City last summer, but spent the following campaign on loan at Girona, struggling to get into the team before moving to Deportivo on a temporary deal this summer.
Garcia has earned youth international caps, and will hope to catch the eye of selectors more this year playing back in his home country.
