Joan García has been one of the great revelations of LaLiga this season. The young Espanyol goalkeeper has shown a great level, which has sparked the interest of several clubs. However, his possible move to Real Madrid seems more complicated than was desired.
An Unexpected Offer
Espanyol, aware of their goalkeeper's potential, has offered his signing to Real Madrid. All this, in part, due to Barcelona's interest in acquiring his services. The "perico" club doesn't want to strengthen their main rival and has sought an alternative in the "white" team.
At first, the operation might have seemed interesting for Madrid. Florentino's team is in the process of renewal, and the goalkeeper position is one of those where they seek to secure the future. However, the reality is different.
Real Madrid's Response
"We'll talk at the end of the season," was the club's reaction to the offer. Despite Joan García's talent, Real Madrid already has two great goalkeepers: Courtois and Lunin. Both have proven to be key pieces, so the addition of another goalkeeper is not a priority.
Lunin's future is one of the great unknowns. The Ukrainian goalkeeper has proven his worth this season and has sparked the interest of several teams.
If he decides to leave in the summer, Madrid might reconsider Joan García's arrival. But for now, the club maintains its stance: there is no need to sign another goalkeeper.
Joan García and His Future
At 23 years old, Joan García has established himself as one of the promises of Spanish soccer. His contract with Espanyol includes a clause of 30M euros, which could be reduced to 15M in case of relegation. An affordable price for any club looking to strengthen their goalkeeping.
Espanyol knows that retaining him will be difficult. His great performance has caught the attention of teams inside and outside of Spain. Although the club prefers to avoid his move to Barcelona, it's also not clear that he will end up at Real Madrid.
A Signing on Hold
For Madrid, the goalkeeper position is not a priority in this market. As long as Courtois and Lunin remain on the team, Joan García's arrival doesn't make sense. However, the market is unpredictable, and everything can change in the coming months.
For now, Florentino Pérez has closed the debate. Joan García is not on Real Madrid's agenda... at least, for the moment.