FC Barcelona in Trouble: Is Joan García Going to Atlético?

Atlético de Madrid seems to have settled on Joan García as the perfect replacement for Jan Oblak, who has been crucial for the team for years. The search for a suitable successor for the Slovenian is vital for the future of the 'rojiblanco' goal, and the Espanyol goalkeeper is currently Diego Simeone's preferred choice to fill a position that has been defended without question by the '13' for the last decade. In this sense, FC Barcelona could lose one of its potential reinforcements for the upcoming summer market.

In this regard, the latest information indicates Atlético's intention to close the signing of the Spanish goalkeeper as soon as possible, but to leave him on loan for another year at Espanyol. This would allow the 'perico' team to keep the player from Sallent de Llobregat for another year and receive a significant amount of money, while the 'colchoneros' would secure his future without having to spend a large sum immediately.

Joan García's release clause is 25 million euros, although it could increase to 30 million if he plays with the Spanish National Team. In the event of Espanyol's relegation, his exit price would drop to 15 'kilos'. In addition to Atlético de Madrid, other clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayer Leverkusen have also shown interest in the Catalan goalkeeper.

Barça, Far from Entering the Bidding for Joan García

In the case of Barça, although Deco has shown interest in the '1' from Espanyol, the club's priority may lie in other signings or in resolving the situation of their current goalkeeping with Marc-André ter Stegen and Wojciech Szczesny. The German still has a contract until 2028 and should regain the starting position next September, while the Pole is set to renew for another season.

The culés also need to resolve the future of Iñaki Peña, whose contract with the club ends in 2026. Initially, it is very likely that the Alicante player would prefer to leave if Szczesny ultimately decides to stay. Thus, although Barcelona is interested in Joan García, the chances of signing him in the summer of 2025 depend on several factors, including negotiating with an Espanyol that prefers to transfer the goalkeeper to any other club in Spain or another league.