Eric Garcia has chosen not to take Barcelona’s No. 4 shirt, which became available following Ronald Araujo’s season-long loan move to Liverpool. Garcia had the opportunity to change his squad number during the summer but decided to leave the number untouched, believing it still belonged to Araujo and could eventually return to the Barcelona defender.

Araujo has started his spell at Liverpool positively under Andoni Iraola, while Garcia continues to play an important role at Barcelona. The Spanish defender has been part of the squad since returning to the club setup and has established himself as a reliable option within Hansi Flick’s team. His decision over the shirt number reflects the strong relationship between the two players and his expectation that Araujo could return to Barcelona after his temporary spell in England.

Garcia is also optimistic about Barcelona’s prospects in the Champions League following their strong start to the campaign. The club have a deep squad with considerable competition for places, although the defender considers LaLiga the priority. He also believes success in Europe can sometimes be influenced by factors beyond a team’s control, making domestic consistency particularly important throughout the season.

The defender has previously backed Lamine Yamal as his preferred candidate for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with Raphinha and Pedri also among his leading choices. Yamal remains one of the major contenders for the award and has shown confidence in his own chances. Barcelona’s next Champions League challenge will come after the October international break, when Flick’s side travel to Paris to face PSG.