Barcelona star shares emotional reaction to long-awaited international debut: ‘I was so excited that…’ | OneFootball

Joan Garcia marked a major milestone in his career after making his debut for Spain in a friendly against Egypt. 

The Barcelona goalkeeper was introduced in the 63rd minute, replacing David Raya, in what turned out to be a memorable night at the RCDE Stadium.

Having previously played for Espanyol, Garcia’s return to the same ground in Spain colours brought a mixed reaction from the crowd. 

While some whistles were heard, applause ultimately took over as the goalkeeper stepped onto the pitch.

Reflecting on that moment, Garcia said that his focus remained untouched by the atmosphere around him.

“The boos? I was so focused and excited that everything else took a back seat. I’m really happy with the work I’ve put in that’s allowed me to get here,” said the debutant.

Making his Spain debut at a stadium where he had earlier built his reputation added a unique twist to the occasion. 

Still, the goalkeeper insisted that the location was secondary to the achievement itself.

“The truth is, I was excited to make my debut at any stadium in the world.”

The bigger picture

Joan Garcia made his national team debut against Egypt. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Despite the magnitude of the moment, Garcia revealed that nerves never got the better of him. 

Instead, it was pure excitement that defined his experience, even though the result did not go as planned.

He said he hadn’t felt “nervous; I was so excited that nothing else mattered, although I would have liked us to have won.”

Looking back at the moment

Garcia also shared insight into how he discovered he would be making his debut, highlighting how quickly the moment unfolded.

“It was at halftime when they told me to get ready. But until you actually step onto the field and run toward the goal, you don’t really believe it.”

Looking ahead, the Barcelona goalkeeper did not shy away from discussing his ambitions with the national team, especially with the World Cup on the horizon.World Cup. 

“You realise you have a chance if you’re called up for the preliminary squads. 

“Now it’s about focusing on continuing to work hard and performing at a high level with the club. 

“And if they call me up for the World Cup this summer, I’ll be very happy,” he concluded.

Source: AS