After coming through FC Barcelona's ranks with the likes of Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol, forward Luis Garcia never quite made the cut at the Catalan club. In an exclusive interview, the former Liverpool star told us why it was tougher for him than others.
Click through the gallery above to see some pictures of Garcia during his time with the Blaugrana.
From 1997 to 2002, Garcia represented Barca's B team, showing incredible promise that would eventually be fulfilled with the likes of Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.
In an exclusive interview with Soccer Laduma at a LaLiga Ambassadors event in Madrid, he explained to us that he faced stiff competition for places in the Barcelona first team, which led to him seeking to gain senior experience elsewhere.
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"I will tell you the whole story. I met Xavi and we were together U17 and U18," he said.
"We played (together) two years U18, and then two years in Barca B. After that, it's about who you've got in front (of you) in the first team.
"I had quite a few, ha ha… Rivaldo, Ronaldo, a few big names and I was only 20 years old.
"I had the call twice for the first team, and my debut didn't happen, so I had to move on, try to find my way and try to get my experience.
"That's what the managers at Barcelona told me. That I was young, I had the talent, but I needed the experience so that's what I was trying to do."
Garcia eventually returned to the Catalan giants, but was sold to Liverpool in 2004 after 38 appearances in Barca's senior set-up.
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The Spaniard went on to become a key player for Liverpool, with whom he won the UEFA Champions League in 2005.
Do you think Garcia should have been given a better chance at Barca? Let us know in the comments section below.
