March like a hero or break the hearts of the parakeets: Joan Garcia's big decision

BarcelonaJoan Garcia will have no shortage of suitors this summer. The architect of Espanyol's permanence, However, he will have to make a vital decision: leave the club of his life as a hero or break the hearts of a fan base that has idolized him. His conditions and the excellent performances offered this season, in which he was the goalkeeper with the second most saves in the five major European leagues (146, only surpassed by the 153 of Mark Flekken, of Brentford), caught the attention of a good handful of European clubs willing to pay his release clause of 25 million. At just 24 years old, the goalkeeper from Sallent will be one of the bargains in this market.

In addition to the interest of several Premier League clubs such as Aston Villa, Newcastle and Arsenal, who already tried to get him last year, the three big sides of the Spanish League have joined, who see him as an opportunity to secure the replacement of their respective goalkeepers. Even Barça, who consider Joan Garcia the ideal candidate to replace Marc-André ter Stegen, 33, and Wojciech Szczęsny, 35, admitted: "In one or two years, Barça will have to have another goalkeeper. I don't understand much about goalkeeping, but Joan Garcia is good," admitted the Blues' sporting director.

The technical qualities of the Catalan goalkeeper, who combines incredible saves with a fairly precise game with his feet, make him an ideal profile for the Blaugrana goal. ARA has been able to confirm the interest of the reigning La Liga champions, which is mainly explained by the doubts expressed in sectors of the club about the level that Ter Stegen can offer next season after suffering a serious meniscus injury. However, the final decision will be up to García, who is fully aware of what a move to the eternal rival city would entail emotionally.

His price won't vary depending on who buys him—the 25 euro release clause—but if he decides to leave for Barça, he would break the hearts of the fans who have loved him so much, especially over the last two seasons, during which he has progressed exponentially. However, sources at Espanyol consulted by this newspaper believe it's unlikely the goalkeeper will end up wearing the Blaugrana jersey due to sentimental reasons.

Joan Garcia was emotional during the celebration of his continued presence, after hearing the chants of the Blue and White fans showing their affection for him. "Everyone knows the situation I find myself in and that the club is in, but I was focused on leaving the team in the First Division. Whatever happens, if I leave, I will be proud to leave the team where it deserves, and that my family can come and watch Espanyol in the First Division at Cornellà-El Prat for many years to come," he explained.

"If Joan leaves, it will be because of his release clause. The player is worth it, and if he had a higher one, it would be worth it too. An offer from England came with three days left until the transfer window, and they said no," recalled Espanyol sporting director Fran Garagarza. "I would be surprised if Joan went to Barça. He has a strong sense of belonging to the club and they are our eternal rival," manager Manolo González explained to RAC1. "They also have Ter Stegen there. I've told him many times to think it over carefully and, money aside, to decide based on the sporting aspect: he must play," the Galician added, without considering that Barça would consider loaning him out for a season to avoid him being a substitute next season.

The prominence that the projects they offer him will be a key issue. Joan Garcia himself, in fact, acknowledged in an interview with ARA that, after three years in the shadow of Diego López and Pacheco, he needed playing time to develop. "Young goalkeepers need consistency to gain confidence," he explained. In a season that will decide who will go to the 2026 World Cup, being able to continue to be a starter will be key.

A Ricardo Zamora case, one hundred years later

Barça wants to repeat with Joan Garcia what it did with Ricardo Zamora in the summer of 1919, more than a hundred years ago. The first great goalkeeper in Spanish football, who had debuted three years earlier, at the age of 16, with Espanyol, signed for Barça after various financial and personal disagreements with the Blue and Whites' board. The deal generated a huge media impact at the time.

Barça paid an unusual amount for the time, and Zamora also received a signing bonus, something unusual in semi-professional football. Zamora played three seasons as a Barça player before returning to Espanyol in 1922. Years later, he showed his sentimental attachment to the Perica entity: "I've always been an Espanyol fan, it's the club that gave me the opportunity to debut, which is why I feel it's my thing. My time at Barça was important, but not...