‘This was the step I had to take’ - Joan Garcia explains decision to join Barcelona

Joan Garcia is living the dream. Barcelona’s new goalkeeper still has to wait a couple of weeks to finally join his new teammates and start to train under new manager Hansi Flick, but he is more than ready to begin.

Speaking to the club’s media this week, the former Espanyol shot-stopper revealed why he chose to move to Barça and how eager he is to start training with his new team. He also welcomed the competition that currently includes Marc-André ter Stegen and Wojciech Szczesny, and is ready to prove he is good enough to earn the starting job when the season begins.

“Many factors. Ultimately, I think the team and project is one of the best in the world of football right now. What’s more, I’m at home, I think the team can compete for everything at the moment, based both on the team and the structure that has been developed. I really wanted to form part of a project like this, and where better to do it than at home. “I didn’t want a lot of distractions, I wanted to remain focused until the season ended because we were stiriving to fulfill the objective until the final day to some extent. The days and weeks have been intense since then, I thought about it a lot, spoke with those close to me, my family, but I was really very convinced it was the step I had to take and I am happy to have taken it. “I was very clear about it, that it was the step I had to take, but obviously, given where I have come from and everything, it’s been tough, I felt a bit strange, but as I said, I am very convinced and very happy to have done it. “The team is very young and obviously that will help me to fit in, to adapt in the best possible way. I am lucky to already know some of them, and [I’m] very much at ease and really wanting to get to know them all. Right now I am thinking about the first day I put on my boots and gloves for training, and obviously for there to be many trophies and many successes in the years to come. “I have worked hard for many years, I am very calm and can’t wait to take on the challenge. When you are part of a team like this one, with the standards here, there is competition. And I think there has to be competition, it’s very healthy. Obviously the coach has to decide, but I can’t wait to bring what I can and I hope it means I am playing. I would start training tomorrow.” Source: FC Barcelona

Joan certainly says all the right things, and he has all the talent and potential in the world to become Barça’s new star goalkeeper. He needs time to work and learn a new system, but he definitely seems like they type of player and person who will put in as much time as needed to become his best version.

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