BARCELONA, Spain (AP) 鈥 A lithe Joan Garc铆a springs across the goalmouth and makes another save for Espanyol.
It has become . But if you haven鈥檛 had the chance to see Garc铆a , you probably will soon enough at a major European club.
Espanyol is in need of cash, and it is very likely that Garc铆a will be sold this summer despite having a contract through 2028.
Arsenal was reportedly close to triggering his 30-million-euro ($34 million) buyout clause last August after Garc铆a helped . His stock has only risen since thanks to his standout debut season in the topflight. Media speculation now links him to interest from Real Madrid as well as Espanyol鈥檚 crosstown rival, Barcelona.
Amid those rumors, Garc铆a tells The Associated Press that he is focused on ensuring his boyhood club avoids relegation, while recognizing that the future is wide open.
鈥淭here was lots of interest last summer, above all from Arsenal, but I stayed here and from then on I have been 100% focused on this campaign,鈥 Garc铆a said during a recent interview at Espanyol鈥檚 training center on the northern outskirts of Barcelona.
鈥淲e all know the situation, not just mine, but of the club, and anything can happen. But the future will tell and we will worry about it when the time comes.鈥
Leading La Liga in saves
The 23-year-old Garc铆a has been on a stellar trajectory since he became Espanyol鈥檚 starter last season in the second division due to the injury of a teammate.
He helped the club win a promotion playoff before tasting Olympic success in Paris. And since then he has emerged as the breakout player in La Liga.
Garc铆a leads all goalkeepers in the Spanish league with 123 saves, making nearly four a game on average, and is a big reason why his modest club is not mired in a relegation battle. Espanyol is in 13th place and has conceded 41 goals; 11 teams in the 20-team league have conceded more.
Garc铆a鈥檚 gloves have backstopped Espanyol’s strong run since the winter break, with just two losses in 14 games this year. That stretch included a massively celebrated in February, which Garc铆a says is the highlight of the campaign so far.
Garc铆a’s strengths go beyond making saves. His ability to make long passes to launch counterattacks has been key to Espanyol bettering more talented opponents. Even though he says he still needs to work on his ability to punch away high crosses, he believes that his mental poise gives him an edge.
鈥淚 think I am goalkeeper that transmits confidence when it comes to making decisions,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd through the years I have learned to accept my mistakes and use them to improve. I think that is something that any football player needs, but especially a goalkeeper.鈥
Garc铆a’s favorite save was a dive to his right and left-handed parry to redirect a blistering strike by Sevilla鈥檚 Dodi Lukebakio onto the crossbar in a 1-1 draw. There were also the two penalties he saved against Mallorca, among other outstanding performances.
Coach compares his impact to that of Messi for Barcelona
His reflex swat to push a header onto his bar against Getafe last weekend moved Espanyol coach Manolo Gonz谩lez to single out Garc铆a.
鈥淲e have a goalkeeper who decides matches,鈥 Gonz谩lez said after Garc铆a’s performance helped preserve a 1-0 win. 鈥淭his is like when Bar莽a had Messi. (Garc铆a) is going to be a player known around the world, and I am happy for him both as a professional and for the person he is.鈥
鈥淚 thought he was crazy,鈥 Garc铆a said, laughing, when asked about the Messi comparison. 鈥淏ut I guess I see what he is getting at. There are moments when I have made plays to help the team, and I am very happy coach is supporting me.鈥
The brother and veterans who showed him the way
Garc铆a started playing soccer when he was four years old in his village of Sallent de Llobregat, located an hour north of Barcelona, where he followed in his older brother鈥檚 footsteps and became a goalkeeper. He joined Espanyol at age 15 and made his way up through the youth teams.
He said he is proud to be a part of Espanyol, a small club living in the shadow of the globally popular Barcelona. The club with its blue-and-white colors whose fans are known as 鈥減arakeets鈥 (pericos) has a long history of great goalkeepers, starting with Ricardo Zamora and including Thomas N鈥橩ono and fellow Cameroon goalie Carlos Kameni. Garc铆a credited former Real Madrid stopper Diego L贸pez with showing him the ropes when he started training with the senior team.
Garc铆a expressed loyalty to his club whose motto is that its fans belong to a 鈥渕arvelous minority鈥 in a city and region where being a Barcelona supporter is the norm.
鈥淔rom the outside, it may look like Espanyol is a small club, but there are lots of Espanyol fans in Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t is always a source of pride to find another 鈥榩arakeet鈥 and exchange a greeting because you can feel the warmth.鈥
A World Cup call-up?
It was a mild surprise that Spain coach Luis de la Fuente did not name Garc铆a in his March squad list, but Garc铆a is a strong candidate to be in the European champion鈥檚 team for next year鈥檚 World Cup.
To do so, he will need to displace either Alejandro Remiro, David Raya or starter Unai Sim贸n.
鈥淚 am proud to be considered one of the goalkeepers who have a chance to go to the national team,鈥 Garc铆a said. 鈥淚t is the highest honor to play for one鈥檚 country at a World Cup. So if I have that chance, I will give it my all to make it happen.鈥
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