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Liverpool to Sign Barcelona Left Back After Successful Trial

Released Barcelona defender Juanma will join Liverpool’s reserves for the coming season.

RSC Anderlecht v FC Barcelona - UEFA Youth League Round of 16 Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Having completed a successful 10-day trial at Liverpool, the club are set to sign 19-year-old left back Juanma, who left Barcelona earlier in the summer following the expiration of his youth contract when the player and club failed to agree on a new deal.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the youngster has impressed Liverpool coaches enough to have been offered a contract. The player is expected to sign it within the next few days but as a youth and reserve signing, an official announcement from the club is not expected.

Juanma also spent time at Villarreal this summer, with the Spanish side the other main contender to sign the La Masia graduate. Juanma, whose full name is Juan Manuel Garcia, has represented Barcelona at the youth level for the past four seasons.

He has spent time at both centre half and left back, though at Liverpool he spent his entire trial at left back and is expected to play on the flank for the reserves. However, he is not expected to be in contention for a first team role, at least not straight away.

If he is able to impress through the autumn then there is always the chance of him working his way into the mix, but for now at least, Juanma arrives purely as a reserve player. He spent at Barcelona’s academy with current Reds Pedro Chirivella and Madger Gomes.

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