‘Sooner or later‘ — Ruben Martinez predicts Joan Garcia will become Spain’s starting goalkeeper | OneFootball

Ruben Martinez knows FC Barcelona star Joan Garcia very well from his time as goalkeeping coach of the Spanish national team. He has worked with him at the U-21 level and also during their Olympic campaign.

Martinez has followed Garcia’s development closely and believes the 24-year-old has the potential to become one of the best goalkeepers in Barcelona’s history as well as Spain’s starting goalkeeper. He shared his insights in an interview with SPORT.

Martinez was not surprised by the level Garcia has shown at Barcelona. Reflecting on their time together during the Olympics, he said:

“The truth is, I wasn’t surprised. I expected it. We spent the entire Olympic period together, about forty spectacular days, both professionally and personally. It was already clear that he had the qualities to be part of a big team.”

Martinez explained that Garcia’s rise has been a natural progression, with his talent evident from a young age:

“It has been a very natural progression. You can see the skills and the talent he already had. We knew it well in the national team. It coincided with Pacheco’s injury at Espanyol; he got his opportunity, and there he proved his worth.”

Regarding Garcia’s limited appearances for the national team, Martinez stressed that squad selection is ultimately the coach’s decision:

“That’s a question for the coach. Right now, there’s a very established group of goalkeepers, and I suppose they prioritize the group dynamic. Beyond that, it’s the coach who makes the decisions.”

He added that Joan Garcia would likely accept not being the starting goalkeeper if needed:

“Probably yes, but that’s a decision only the coach can make, and he will have his reasons. A few months remain, and he’s not ruled out. The coach will evaluate the moment of each goalkeeper. It’s not an easy decision because Unai Simón has had a very good trajectory, and ultimately, they will decide.”

Martinez declined to say whether he would take Joan Garcia to the World Cup but emphasized that careful evaluation is key:

“I’d have to see myself in that situation. It’s normal that when forming a team, you try to take the best players. Both the coach and his staff will weigh the pros and cons. It’s not an easy decision.”

When asked about Garcia’s strongest quality, Martinez highlighted his mental strength and consistency:

“I’d highlight his composure above all. He’s a brave goalkeeper, very reliable in every action. He masters many aspects of the game, both offensively and defensively. And something very important: the few mistakes he’s made don’t affect him. He maintains spectacular concentration, which is key for a goalkeeper.”

Martinez praised Garcia’s improvement to suit Barcelona’s style of play:

“He’s a goalkeeper made to measure for Barça’s style. He’s improved tremendously with his footwork. At Espanyol, he had less work in that area, and there were some doubts about his offensive contribution here, but he has proven to be a very complete keeper who plays very well with his feet.”

He also noted Garcia’s ability to perform under pressure, citing recent matches:

“The composure and confidence he conveys in every action are enormous. You can clearly see it in demanding matches. Against Racing, for example, in the only play that wasn’t offside, he goes and saves it. The Copa del Rey is a very tough competition, as we also saw with Albacete, and he had a great game.”

Martinez emphasized that Garcia’s success is the result of talent combined with dedicated training:

“First, you need talent, that’s clear. From there, daily training makes you improve. Surely the specific work with José Ramón de la Fuente, a high-level goalkeeping coach, helps him perfect all kinds of reactions. If you combine work with the talent he has, growth is inevitable.”

Looking to the future, Martinez is confident about Garcia’s potential:

“Sooner or later, he will be Spain’s starting goalkeeper, and in a few years, he could become one of the best goalkeepers in Barça’s history if he maintains this progression. He’s young, and goalkeepers have many years ahead. He can make history in Spanish football.”

Martinez also reflected on Garcia’s choice to join Barcelona rather than move to the Premier League:

“He totally got it right, but we also have the example of David Raya, who adapted to the Premier and is performing at a very high level. If you have talent, it doesn’t matter which league you play in. Given his characteristics, we’re going to enjoy Joan a lot.”

Finally, Martinez praised the influence of training alongside veteran Barcelona goalkeepers:

Everyone who has worked with Joan Garcia from a young age expected him to make it big in his career. His mentality is incredible, and let us hope Barcelona reap the rewards of their investment for a long time to come.