Real Madrid is said to be interested in signing Joan Garcia this summer, and it is no surprise considering his performances for Espanyol this season. The 23-year-old has demonstrably been the best keeper in La Liga, and with Thibaut Courtois already in its thirty, he looks an ideal successor in the long term.
Garcia, who is also being sought by Arsenal, produced a top performance on Friday when Espanyol Getafe defeated to continue from the relegation zone, and on the back of that competition his manager was lyrical about him.
According to Dazn (via MD), Espanyol -head coach Manolo Gonzalez spoke glowing on Garcia, even with his impact at Los Pericos with that of Lionel Messis when he was in Barcelona.
“Joan Garcia will undoubtedly be a world reference. Hopefully because he earns it, at the level and by person. This is the same as when Barcelona had Messi. There was a regular game and he solved it.”
Garcia is in sensational form this season – he has collected the best savings percentage, saves per 90 and has the most goals in La Liga, so it is no surprise that people like Real Madrid and Arsenal are interested in signing it during this summer's transfer window. And if serious efforts are made, it will be difficult for Espanyol to keep its services much longer.
With seven games to go until the end of the La Liga season, Espanyol are eight points free from the relegation zone – and it is not bizarre to say that Garcia is a big reason why they are so comfortable at this stage. It is remarkable that they are only five points away from the European places, so they can sneak in if they can keep their impressive run between now and the end of May.