Barcelona’s summer has already been dominated by whispers of big moves and strategic signings, but the focus has now shifted to the squad’s defensive backbone.
The Catalan giants are working tirelessly to adapt their lineup following injury setbacks, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen sidelined for the long term.
Fans have been closely monitoring who will step into the starting role between the sticks, knowing the pressure at Camp Nou is immense.
With La Liga fixtures approaching, the club has little time to adjust and ensure stability at the goalkeeper position.
Speculation had been rife over potential internal promotions or external signings to fill the void left by Ter Stegen’s absence.
The answer has now arrived in the form of Joan Garcia, who signed from Espanyol to Barcelona and explained how he was persuaded to make the switch.
Joan Garcia will be the club’s starting goalkeeper for the 2025-26 season and says he made the move because Deco and Barcelona made him feel “truly loved” during transfer negotiations.
“Above all, the project there is, the team there, so young, with so much quality.
“And they made me feel they truly loved me.
“They made a significant financial commitment that many teams probably wouldn’t have made.
“So I felt they truly loved me, that it was a commitment they were making with great determination,” he told Mundo Deportivo.
“And that’s very important for a player.
“Feeling loved and truly loved is very important to me.
“Above all, the project there is, the team there, so young, with so much quality. And they made me feel they truly loved me.
“They made a significant financial commitment that many teams probably wouldn’t have made.
“So I felt they truly loved me, that it was a commitment they were making with great determination.
“And that’s very important for a player. Feeling loved and truly loved is very important to me.”
Barcelona are set to officially register Garcia in the coming days, and he is expected to make his debut against Real Mallorca in La Liga.
With Ter Stegen out, Garcia’s arrival is seen as pivotal to maintaining the club’s defensive stability while providing a youthful spark between the posts.
Deco’s influence and the club’s commitment were clearly decisive factors in convincing the goalkeeper to cross the city, proving that sometimes a player’s heart and feeling of being valued outweigh every other consideration in a transfer.
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