Real Madrid make contact with €25 million-rated Barcelona priority target | OneFootball

Joan Garcia has become the most talked-about footballer in Spain in recent days after helping RCD Espanyol survive relegation from La Liga.

The 24-year-old shot-stopper has an increasingly long list of suitors, with Spanish champions FC Barcelona leading the chase.

Several Premier League clubs, including Newcastle United and Manchester City, are also understood to be admirers of the Espanyol hero.

Real Madrid want Joan Garcia

And now, another major club has made a move: Real Madrid.

Indeed, according to AS, there has been contact between Los Blancos and Joan Garcia’s camp. The message from the Santiago Bernabeu is clear – they are following him closely.

Several factors make the scenario complex: the number of clubs interested, Garcia’s desire to resolve his future soon, and Real Madrid’s current goalkeeping hierarchy.

Thibaut Courtois remains immovable as first choice, with Andriy Lunin in reserve. If the Ukrainian goalkeeper were to leave – something that is not being ruled out this summer – then Los Blancos will act.

If Jorge Mendes, Lunin’s agent, were to present an appealing offer that Real Madrid deemed fair, his departure would become a serious option.

Real Madrid eyeing Joan Garcia. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

And if Garcia were still available at that point, Real Madrid would fully enter the equation. The risk is that it may be too late.

Long-standing interest

Real Madrid’s interest in Joan Garcia is longstanding and not simply a response to his recent breakthrough at Espanyol.

The Spanish capital club were already monitoring him since last year when he had just overtaken Fernando Pacheco at Espanyol and was aiming to become the undisputed starter in goal.

Not only has he done so, but he has exceeded expectations, becoming one of the most sought-after goalkeepers in Europe.

Garcia has a release clause set at €25 million. The figure would have risen by another €5 million had he been called up to Spain’s senior national team by Luis de la Fuente, which did not happen.

One of the main demands of the goalkeeper ahead of a summer move is that he wants to play regularly more than anything.

This is why negotiations with clubs like Barcelona have not progressed as Marc-Andre ter Stegen remains the No. 1. It also complicates Real Madrid’s interest due to Courtois’ standing as the preferred choice.