Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is delighted with the progress of Eric Garcia.

The former Barcelona youngster may go out on loan next season, or remain with the elite development squad, depending on his progress.

“I can count on him," said Guardiola. “He has shown me an incredible personality, in the Carabao and especially in pre-season when he played with a lot of young players.

“It's easier when you are a young player and you come in close to Nico (Otamendi) or David Silva or Kevin (De Bruyne).

“But to play there with six or seven academy players, he was a real captain. He guided and he led.

“In three games against Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Dortmund, he was incredibly good. In the Carabao, he was good."

Guardiola added: "We'll decide this month what will happen next season.

“I'm incredibly satisfied for not just the game but the way he is training, his behaviour, how polite he is, how he listens. When he has doubts, he asks myself or our staff.

“He's so smart, so intelligent. His physicality is not so, so strong, but he resolved the situation by thinking.

“I like to work with smart people, intelligent people. He is one of them."