Spanish NT coach speaks on Barcelona star’s potential call-up – ‘He knows how we work’ | OneFootball

Barcelona have struck gold by signing Joan Garcia, and the signs could not be any clearer.

Just three official games into the season, and it already appears that the €25 million Barcelona paid for the young Espanyol goalkeeper was a bargain, for he has been rock-solid and has adapted exceptionally to his new club.

Garcia’s performances, needless to say, have already begun conversations about whether he deserves a run-in with the Spanish national team, something the manager Luis De La Fuente did not completely rule out but called for patience over in a recent interview.

Spain manager’s thoughts

Speaking to the media in a recent interview, De la Fuente commented in-depth about the goalkeeping situation for La Roja and where Joan Garcia stood in terms of receiving a call-up.

He first began by praising the current trio of goalkeepers – Unai Simon, David Raya and Alex Remiro – and the fantastic work they have been putting in to deserve consecutive call-ups.

“You have to be respectful and value what the other three have done.

Unai Simon has broken the record of Jose Angel Iribar in the national team and has an exceptional career, with titles behind him.

“I am also very sure of David Raya and Alex Remiro,” he said.

He then revealed that he had no pressure to call Joan Garcia up, although the player was on his radar and is not far from receiving a call-up through pure merit.

Joan Garcia is yet to play for Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“With Joan Garcia, I don’t have any pressure of any kind. Joan knows me, he has been in the youth international team with me. He knows how we work,” he said.

Speaking on his chances

Elaborating on the Barcelona star’s chance of making the national team list soon, De La Fuente said,

“Joan Garcia has the doors open when we think his time has come. I don’t know if it will be in October, November or March.”

The manager then went on to speak about the competition for a starting spot in goal for La Roja and how it was brutal.

“Of the top-10 world goalkeepers, we have six or seven. Whoever comes does better than the one who is competing.”

“If you saw the training they do with Miguel Angel Espana, the attitude they have, how they endure the shooting round of the footballers after the session, they don’t leave the goal. It’s incredible,” he added.

The NT coach also detailed how every player is a starter in their own right and how he was spoilt for choice in the department.

“That’s the spirit of this team of goalkeepers. We have six or seven goalkeepers who could come, and the seven could be starters.

“In the end, you have to stay with three, and they are very good.”

“Maybe Joan Garcia also improves if he comes with us,” he concluded, hinting that Garcia could get even better once he earns a call-up.

Source: Cadena SER