Joan Garcia Set to Join Barcelona as Official Signing Nears
Early Announcement Sparks Controversy
Joan Garcia’s signing with FC Barcelona is expected to be made official within hours. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Garcia’s glove brand publicly congratulated him on the significant move before the club’s official announcement, which may not sit well with Barcelona officials. The brand, Rinat, shared a celebratory post on social media, seemingly treating the official signing as a formality. The post featured the tagline, “Being a goalkeeper goes beyond feeling the football. Everything gains meaning when the cry of a goal is drowned out. Today, you show why you were born to fly without wings. Congratulations on this big leap, Joan Garcia!” accompanied by an image of Garcia with the caption, “The blaugrana goalkeeper.”
Transfer Details
Barcelona has already initiated the transfer process by activating Garcia’s release clause, which amounts to €25 million. This transaction was completed yesterday afternoon, and the transfer now awaits final approval from the governing body of La Liga. Expectations are high that the deal will be finalized within the week.
Reactions and Implications
Born in Catalonia, Garcia’s imminent transfer has sparked considerable anger and surprise among Espanyol fans, the club he has been associated with since childhood. The move underscores Barcelona’s clear intentions as they prepare for the upcoming season. Garcia will be the first signing by coach Hansi Flick for the 2025/26 season, as he aims to secure his place as the team’s primary goalkeeper and help the club regain success domestically and in the UEFA Champions League, where they were recently eliminated in the semifinals by Inter Milan.
Impact on Current Squad
The arrival of Garcia is likely to create tension within the squad, particularly for Marc-André ter Stegen, who has been Barcelona’s first-chostart goalkeeper for the past decade. Ter Stegen, who has a contract extending until 2028, has been informed that he will not be receiving playing time in the upcoming season. This puts him in a position where he must decide whether to remain on the bench or negotiate his departure from the club.
As the situation unfolds, fans will be closely watching how Barcelona integrates Garcia into their squad and what this means for ter Stegen’s future with the team.