At the time of writing, Barcelona has to sign the signing of goalkeeper, Joan Garcia, of City Rivals, Espanyol, with a six -year contract, but an announcement is expected at any time.
Upon arrival at El Prat Airport in Barcelona, the keeper could not escape the attention of reporters with eagle. “I am already at home,” he said with a smile. “Happy to be back from vacation, I had a great time. Now I am here at home.” Maybe understandable that he didn't give anything else away.
Laliga has already confirmed that the release clause of € 25 million from the custodian has been paid, and soon enough the brilliant 24-year-old-year-old years praised-a keeper of rival Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Inaki Pena and Wojciech Szczesny.
Barca's interest is of course no surprise.
Most saves in LaLiga in 2024/25
Garcia's 146 Saves in the Spanish top flight during the 2024/25 campaign were most of every keeper in the competition, and of those he knew to record a hugely impressive 73.7 savings percentage.
19 Accurate keeper Swepings of 20 attempt gave him a lecture of 95% in that respect, while his distribution statistics played for those short steps from behind – something that Barca was trusted almost exclusively during games – also in the elite level bracket (92.3%).
1,256 Owning passes give a nod to how busy Garcia was in defensive sense for Los Periquitos, and at least in what a disappointing season was for them, the keeper at least leaves with his head.
Barcelona probably sees the best years of Garcia's career between the posts and, injuries that allow it, he will probably be at least another decade or so. For essentially € 2.5 million per season in the conditions of the transfer costs If he stayed at the club until 2035/36, Barca would package himself an absolute bargain.
Joan Garcia passes through statistics in Laliga 2024/25Opta.
A keeper who can also rely on large reflexes and an impressive presence in his area, he has everything the modern keeper needs to be a success at the highest level.
However, the arrival of Garcia can soon be problematic.
Ter Stegen is now staying in Barcelona?
There were reports that had agreed with Galatasaray, but large Spanish points of sale suggest that Ter Stegen is in fact apparently so furious by the way he has been treated – after he has just returned just returned from a long -term injury – that he will now penetrate (or have his entire contract in order).
In addition, Barcelona will not be able to get rid of the salary of € 6.3 million per year per year (Garcia's reportedly compared to only € 3 million per year), and the impact that the club will have in terms of their transfer goals and the ability to pay them is clear.
If that situation occurs, it reflects what happened earlier with Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman has always been an important part of the Barca team, but his excessive salary of € 19 million a year – agreed by the previous administration – is an important factor why the club had tried to load him more than once in the past few transfer windows.
The fact that the team of the first team recently risen like a Phoenix from the Flames and came within a mustache hair of an unprecedented third Treble of competition, cup and Champions League is amazing when it is placed in context of which the club is financially against.
What for Wojciech Szczesny?
Joan Laporta, Deco and Hansi Flick have more direct matters on the table as Stegen his threat to keep following and fighting for his place. That's because it will also have a knock-on impact on Wojciech Szczesny.
The Polish stopper did a reasonable enough work last season in the absence of Ter Stegen, and came from retirement to answer Barca's call in their hour of need.
While one or two controversial mistakes were made – which, for example, can forget the flow of blood in the Benfica game – Szczesny had a perfect 100% record for keeper Sweeps and another perfect show for rescues made of shots outside the box.
A total of 38 Saves made in 22 games played – none of them were lost – is clearly not a patch on Garcia, although it should be taken into account how well Barcelona attacked compared to an Espanyol side that fought for a long -term relegation and trusted heavily on their custodian.
A completion of 87.5% is also by no means bad, but is still far behind Garcia's output.
No room for Inaki Pena in Barcelona
And what about Inaki Pena, the 26-year-old who has already been to the club and who had been a competent substitute for Ter Stegen during an earlier injury?
All signs indicate that he will leave the club this summer instead of staying for another season – essentially to sit on the couch – before he leaves when his contract rises in the summer of 2026.
Another who can feel awarded the way he was poured aside, Pena appeared last season 18 performances with a poor savings percentage of only 66%.
With FC Barcelona, Inaki Pena trains in the Joan Gamper Sports City before the LaLiga match against Real BetisNurphoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
His 100% record for keeping sweeping reflects that from Szczesny, but he also does not recommend his area in the same way as Garcia.
Pena's loyalty to the club is not in doubt, but there is no feeling in football and has never been. Apart from the strange few games – especially away from Real Madrid during a 4-0 win – Pena did not really excel and in the end that cost him.
Perhaps this change in the guard in the goal was inevitable. For a club that is always proud of being 'Mes Que Un Club' and does things a little differently, their way to do business has left a lot to be desired again.