Man City manager Guardiola will convince Barca target Eric Garcia to stay for 'many years'.

Eric Garcia has been linked with a return move to the Camp Nou, with reports suggesting he is keen on a return to Spain.

Pep Guardiola believes Spain youth international Eric Garcia will continue to ply his trade at Manchester City despite reported interest from LaLiga giants Barcelona.

The 19-year-old, who has made nine Premier League appearances this season, has attracted interest from the Catalan club he left in 2017, but Guardiola insists he would try to convince defender Garcia to stay at the Etihad for "many years".

"I am confident he will stay but in the end it is his decision," he told a news conference as the Evening Standard quoted.

"He knows we want him but it was the same with Leroy [Sane, who has joined Bayern Munich]. We want him but if he doesn't want to stay we cannot do anything else.

"He knows, his agent knows, his family knows that we want him. And if Barcelona want him, they have to call Txiki [Begiristain, City director of football]."

The Spaniard was an unused substitute in City 5-0 victory against Newcastle United on Wednesday.

Follow Think Football Ideas across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.