Espanyol director reflects on Joan Garcia transfer to Barcelona – ‘There were no calls, no contacts’ | OneFootball

Joan Garcia was Barcelona’s most valuable player in the team’s recent 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano, and if that performance is anything to go by, it is not the last time he saves the team on his own.

On the night, the player was seemingly impenetrable and made save after save from point-blank range to keep the Catalans fighting.

The €25 million Barcelona paid for his controversial transfer from Espanyol, needless to say, appears to be a bargain.

Espanyol sporting director speaks

Speaking to the media in a recent interaction, Espanyol’s sporting director Fran Garagarza was asked about Joan Garcia’s transfer to Barcelona and how it unfolded from Espanyol’s side.

“We knew he was a goalkeeper with a very high level, and there were already movements in the previous window, with Arsenal very interested, but we understood it couldn’t happen,” he began, relaying that Garcia’s departure was already a well-accepted fact internally.

He then insisted that the club refused to accept anything less than his release clause.

“It wasn’t possible to open the door for anything other than the clause, no way. And it didn’t happen.”

“We told the kid: ‘The moment will come, but not now’. And indeed, that moment arrived,” he added.

Joan Garcia left Espanyol to join Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Garagarza then revealed that he was surprised by Barcelona being the club that made a move for Garcia, as he did not see it coming.

“Surprised it was Barça? Very surprised,” he began.

“There were rumours and, in fact, a Premier League club even sat down with us, the CEO and me, because they were willing to make financial moves to meet the clause,” he added, revealing how he was unaware of Barcelona’s movements.

The sporting director then went on to reveal how he eventually found out about Barcelona being the club interested in the player and even close to an agreement.

“We found out more through press rumours, and then at some point the agent informed me that the deal was going to happen, and that it was going to be with Barça. If that was the case, it was the clause plus inflation adjustment, nothing else,” he said.

Concluding the story of Garcia’s controversial move, the administrator said,

“The player deposits the clause, and with that money, the club has grown. I can’t say much more. There were no calls, no contacts, nothing at all. Everyone acts as they see fit.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo