Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has claimed that Eric Garcia is so desperate to join the club from Manchester City that he is willing to to play for free.

City boss Pep Guardiola confirmed earlier this week that he expects the 20-year-old to leave the Etihad Stadium when his contract expires in the summer.

Garcia is keen on a return to former side Barca, who have the option of landing the centre-back six months early for a small fee.

According to Font, who is in the running to success Josep Maria Bartomeu in March's rescheduled Camp Nou elections, Garcia is prepared to forgo any salary until the end of the season.

"We're asking the acting board to sign Eric Garcia," he told reporters. "[Ronald] Koeman's asked for him, our sporting structure [if we're elected] support it and the player wants to come because there's a European Championship this summer.

"He [would be] fundamental in the fight for three trophies this season. We know City would accept €3m plus add-ons and we wouldn't have to pay until next season - that's a lot less than Barca offered four months ago.

"The player's also ready to make a big effort and not be paid a salary until the end of the season."

Garcia has spent the past two seasons in City's first team and has made eight appearances in all competitions this campaign.