Joan García bids farewell to Espanyol without mentioning Barça

Joan García announced on Wednesday via social media his departure from Espanyol, expressing gratitude towards his former fans without mentioning his move to Barcelona, which has already deposited the €26.34 million release clause with LaLiga, comprising the stipulated €25 million plus inflation adjustments. After posting his message on Instagram, the 24-year-old goalkeeper changed his profile picture and disabled comments, anticipating a wave of reactions from the more radical Espanyol supporters.

This officially marks the departure of the Sallent de Llobregat goalkeeper, a revelation from last season, and in the coming hours, his agreement with Barça until 2031 will be announced. The presentation will be slightly delayed, although the player has already returned to Barcelona after concluding his vacation in the Azores. According to sources close to him, Joan García is distressed by the criticism and pressure following his decision to prioritise his career and sign with Espanyol's eternal rival.

In his farewell, the young goalkeeper does not expect the Espanyol fans to understand his decision, but he hopes they recognise his total commitment during his nine-year tenure at the Cornellà club. "The time has come to part ways. Today I must say goodbye to the club that has been my home since I was 15. Throughout this time, I have tried to grow every day as a footballer and as a person, always with humility, effort, and the pride of defending the RCD Espanyol goal," Joan García states in his farewell video.

"I have given everything I had inside to help the team, represent this badge with maximum dedication, and live up to what it means to wear this shirt. I know this decision will not be easy for everyone to understand. I don't ask you to do so. But I want you to know that it was a very considered decision, thinking not only about my career but also about what is best for the club, my family, and myself," the Catalan goalkeeper continues.

"This is not just any farewell; it is a chapter that closes with the conviction that everything I have experienced has made me better. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the coaches, teammates, staff, and everyone involved in the club's daily life... Without you, I wouldn't be who I am today. I take away much more than football, friendships, values, lessons, and unforgettable memories, like that night on June 23 that I will never forget," Joan García proclaims.

"And above all, thank you to the fans. From the first day, I felt your affection, and in the toughest moments, your support was what pushed me to keep going. You made me feel part of something very big. I leave with a heart full of gratitude, aware that this journey has had sweet and also tough moments, but all of them have made me grow. I have defended these colours with everything I had, and that will always be my pride. Now I begin a new challenge. I face it with excitement, but also with the utmost respect for everything I leave behind. Thank you for everything, Espanyol fans. Farewell," he concludes.

After weeks of negotiation, it was on Friday that President Joan Laporta signed the order to activate the payment of the release clause. LaLiga notified Espanyol on Monday, and the club, in turn, informed of the move through a statement via Rastar, which owns 99.6% of the club's shares. Nonetheless, Javier Tebas, president of the league, warned Barça on Tuesday that paying the clause is one thing, but registering the player is another.

Initially, a five-year contract was discussed, but it will ultimately be six years to distribute the salary over a longer period, better balance the accounts, and comply with financial fair play. His net salary will be around three million euros annually, nearly ten times the 400,000 euros he earned at Espanyol, which improved his conditions before the last season.

Although strengthening the goalkeeper position was not a priority for Barça, with Ter Stegen, Szczesny, and young Iñaki Peña already in the squad, the management saw an opportunity with Joan García, who was crucial in Espanyol's survival in the top division with an average of 3.6 saves per game, many of them extraordinary. He was the goalkeeper with the most saves in the league, with 146, ahead of Osasuna's Sergio Herrera with 132 and Leganés' Marko Dmitrovic with 104.

Joan García had received interesting offers from the Premier League, particularly from Newcastle, but he was not convinced about moving to another country. He prioritised his family ties to Barcelona and the greater projection offered by the Catalan club, which also brings him closer to the Spanish national team. He was ultimately convinced by Deco, Barça's sporting director, who initiated talks with his representatives over three months ago.