Sports director of Espanyol Fran Garagarza has said that he is not aware of any interest from Barcelona in their star goalkeeper Joan Garcia. The 24-year-old keeper seems to take a big step this summer, with a number of Europe's elite that activates a weight of his release clause of € 25 million.
However, if there is one side that Espanyol does not want him to go, it is Barcelona. Recent reports state that the Blaugrana has performed their interest in Garcia, now in principle have reached an agreement with the player. Their plan is to borrow him to Valencia next season, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen staying number one.
However, this news is filled in by Los Pericos. Manolo Gonzalez manager explained that he would be surprised if Garcia would, rightly or wrongly, throw himself as a traitor in the Catalan derby.
“I know that he has strong feelings for the club. I am not in his head, but I would be very surprised if he went to Barca. Because they have all the stays and because they are our eternal rival, I would be very surprised … but I am not in someone's head, and I do not know what he will do is nothing to do by Rac1, Gonzalez explained.
His advice to Garcia, taking into account the position of Ter Stegen and the reported plan of Barcelona, could well be considered an indication not to go to their rivals.
“What I want is to go somewhere where he can play and be happy. Being a top player. To not go somewhere where an experienced keeper is who catch up with his name. He must continue to play and be a starter. I hope he makes his choices wise and not just the name or money.”
The next day, in an interview with Cadena Ser this time, which was also quoted by MD, sports director Garagarza explained that he had no knowledge of Barcelona's interest.
“We have no knowledge of that, clearly not. What is true is that he is the keeper who made the most saves in La Liga, and for me he is the keeper who has given us a high percentage of our success in relegation.”
Garagarza confirmed that Espanyol was not going to negotiate and would demand its full release clause of € 25 million.
“It will be the clause. But the argument is very simple: the value of the player. The player is worth it. If he had a higher clause, he would also have that value. If we look at the transfers that took place with goalkeepers at our level, they have not paid that way.
Los Pericos will be disappointed on Monday, both on a personal level and a business level. Garcia had a clause in his deal, which means that his release clause would rise by € 5 million if he would be called by Spain, but Luis de la Fuente left him out of his team for the final four of the Nations League, despite the fact that he is perhaps the best of the lost three season.