Joan Garcia disables comments on his farewell video at Espanyol

BarcelonaAfter Barça paid Joan Garcia's release clause at the end of last week, The next step for the goalkeeper from Sallent to confirm his departure from Espanyol to sign for their eternal rivals was to publish a farewell message. He has been part of the Espanyol squad for nine years and, therefore, knew perfectly well that choosing the Camp Nou to continue his professional career would do more harm to the Blanquiazul fans than trying his luck in the Premier League, where he had attractive offers. That's why García, before putting on the Barça shirt and speaking as the new goalkeeper for Hansi Flick's squad, had yet to communicate with all those who just a few weeks ago considered him an idol. Barça, for its part, has already made it official that it has honored Garcia's release clause. This Friday, the player will sign a contract for the next six seasons, until June 30, 2031, in a private ceremony at Barça's offices.

García's message arrived in the form of a video this Wednesday morning, hours after he landed in Barcelona following a few days of disconnection outside of Catalonia. With comments disabled to avoid insults or profanity, the Bagenc native appeared in the spotlight, addressing Espanyol fans. "The time has come to part ways. Today I have to say goodbye to the club that has been my home since I was fifteen. During this time, I have tried to grow every day as a footballer and as a person. Always with humility, effort, and the pride of defending the RCDE goal. I have given everything I had inside to help the 'help' to help the 'RCDE'. I have lived up to the promise of wearing this shirt. This decision will not be easy for everyone to understand. I am not asking you to do so."

And he continues: "It's not just any goodbye. It's a stage that closes with the conviction that everything I've experienced has made me better. My heartfelt thanks to all the coaches, teammates, staff and all the people who are part of the club's day-to-day life, especially at Ramonet, and all those who accompanied me to the Josep Manuel Casanova residence. Without you, I wouldn't be who I am today. I'm taking away so much more than football [...] Above all, thanks to the fans. From day one, I felt their love. Their support pushed me to keep going. It's made me feel part of something very big. [...] Now I'm starting a new challenge that I face with enthusiasm, but also with the utmost respect for what I'm leaving behind. Thanks for everything, pericos. See you later." The recording, accompanied by photographs of Joan Garcia with Espanyol and a simple piano melody in the background, serves as a preamble to the official announcement that Barça hopes to make this Wednesday as well.

Before publishing the farewell video, the Catalan goalkeeper changed his profile picture and deleted a photo of him kissing the Espanyol crest that he had pinned to the front page. Minutes after García's message, the Espanyol club issued a very brief statement officially announcing that the player had paid the €25 million plus the CPI to terminate his contract and "end his time as a player with RCD Espanyol." There was not a trace of kind words for one of the main architects of Manolo González's team's permanence in the First Division. The reason is that no one in the Cornellà-El Prat offices thought the goalkeeper would be a Barça player. "I would put my hand in fire that he won't go to Barça," the Espanyol manager declared a few weeks ago in an interview on Radio Galega.