Miguel Garcia rescinds with Reggina

Injury scuppers career at Italian club

Portuguese defender Miguel Garcia insists that he did not fail in Italian football, after rescinding his contract with Reggina just months after signing for the club.

A graduate of the Sporting academy, former Portugal under-21 international Garcia left the Lisbon club last summer for a fresh challenge in Serie A, joining relegation battlers Reggina. However, a serious injury suffered in October restricted his impact in Calabria and his contract was mutually terminated earlier this week.

“My injury was a crucial factor,” the 25-year-old told Record when asked why he was leaving the club so soon. “At the start of the season everything was fine, but then came the injury which was decisive.”

“I returned to Portugal to recuperate and the recovery period was estimated at six months. But after three or four months Reggina asked that I return to Italy. But once there, I wasn’t fully attended to by the club.

“It was only bad luck, because without the injury I would have been in the team this season. I did not fail in Italy and I’m certain that I just lacked a little fortune. Now I want to fully recover – and I’m already in the final stages – so I can start next season at 100%.”

No hard feelings

When asked about the possibility of returning to Portugal, Garcia revealed that he “Would like to stay abroad, but will wait and analyse all offers” before rejecting the suggestion that there were any grudges between himself and Sporting boss Paulo Bento surrounding his departure last summer.

“No, in no way,” he said. “Sporting is the club of my heart and I still have many friends at the club. Their season so far? I haven’t seen many games, but the team can still get into the Champions League and win the cups. It is completely open.”

Finally, Garcia was reminded of his most memorable moment in a Sporting shirt, when he scored a last-gasp winner at the end of extra time against AZ Alkmaar to send his side into the final of the 2005 Uefa Cup.

“Yes, the Sporting fans mention this moment a lot to me, so far it’s the highlight of my career. It’s been three years, but of course I still haven’t forgotten.”