Latest news with #Espanyol
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Joan Garca gives first Barcelona interview – ‘Now the mess is for the coach to deal with'
New Barcelona signing Joan Garcia has given his first interview as a Blaugrana player, discussing his decision to leave Espanyol for their most bitter rivals, and the potential competition with captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Last week Barcelona stumped up the €25m release clause for Garcia, which was met with a cold statement bidding him farewell from Los Pericos. The Blaugrana seemed to make the decision towards the end of the season, moving ahead of the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Newcastle United. Crossing a bitter rivalry between Espanyol and Barcelona Speaking to the club media, in an excerpt of an interview that will be released in full later this week, Garcia explained that it was a confusing transfer for him emotionally. Advertisement 'Until the season was over, when we were fighting to achieve our objective there (with Espanyol), I didn't want any distractions; I wanted to focus. It's clear that these have been intense days and weeks. I've talked a lot about it. With myself, with my people, my family. But I was pretty convinced it was the step I had to take, and I'm happy,' he told Barca One. 'But obviously from where I'm coming from, it's been complicated. I had strange feelings, but I'm convinced about the decision and happy I did it because right now it's one of the best projects in the world of football. And on top of that, I'm at home. I think it's a team that's contending for anything these days because of the structure it's built. I was eager to join a project, so it's great. And what better way to do it than at home.' The Barcelona project Garcia will have crossed paths with several of Barcelona's players in the Spain youth ranks, and commented that both the youthful aspect of the side and the project attracted him to the move. Image via FC Barcelona Advertisement 'It's one of most exciting projects around, and one of the best teams in the world. It's a young team, and I think that will help me adapt. Plus, I know some of the players, and I'm already thinking about the first day I'm at the Ciutat Esportiva and put on my boots and gloves. And if we start dreaming, let's hope for many titles and successes.' Competition with Marc-Andre ter Stegen One of the major questions is how Hansi Flick will handle the competition between Garcia, La Liga's best goalkeeper last season, and veteran captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The latter is coming off a serious knee injury too. 'Logically, there is [competition]. But I think there should be competition; it's healthy. And among goalkeepers, there's a special connection. The daily demands make us all better. The mess is the coach's problem now, and I want to contribute what I can, hopefully by playing.' The word in Catalonia has been that Garcia has joined Barcelona with guarantees that he would be their starting goalkeeper. However ter Stegen seems set to compete defiantly for his spot, and is so far refusing departures. Undoubtedly the Blaugrana are keen to move him on, but as it stands, the pair will battle it out for the number one position.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Marash Kumbulla wants to convince Gasperini
Roma defender Marash Kumbulla has made his return to the capital with the objective of convincing Gian Piero Gasperini to bet on him ahead of next season. The Albanian centreback is coming off an impressive loan spell in La Liga with Espanyol. Advertisement However, the Spanish side did not pursue a permanent deal for him. According to Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Sport, Kumbulla has made it clear to the people around him that he will try to remain at Roma by convincing newly appointed head coach Gian Piero Gasperini in preseason. In case Gasperini was to decide to look for another defender in his place instead, Kumbulla would seek other solutions in European top flights.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Deco reveals why Barcelona signed Joan Garcia, states 'no obligation' to Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
Barcelona have already made their first signing of the summer, with goalkeeper Joan Garcia having arrived from local rivals Espanyol. The 24-year-old was one of the best in his position in La Liga last season, which is why there is a lot of excitement about him having joined. Deco reveals Barcelona had not planned to sign Joan Garcia As it turns out, Barcelona had not planned to make a move for Garcia this summer, but as explained during an interview with La Vanguardia (via MD), sporting director Deco saw it as a market opportunity. Advertisement 'Goalkeeping was not a priority, but we have seen an opportunity for the market, for the present and for the future. There are not many young players at his level. We never spoke to Joan before the end of the league. We have spoken to his agent telling him that if the player opened the option of Barcelona, we would like to talk to him and we explained the idea.' Image via FC Barcelona Barcelona now have two elder statesmen goalkeepers in Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Wojciech Szczesny alongside Garcia, and Deco made it clear that the latter was brought in with a clear purpose. 'I give a very simple example. Liverpool have a goalkeeper called Alisson, 32, and they signed one of the best in La Liga, Mamardashvili, 24. If you have players who are 32-33 years old, you have to try to make a plan forecast.' Deco has no plans to speak with Marc-Andre Ter Stegen Garcia's arrival has led to significant speculation on the future of Ter Stegen, who is expected to be third-choice goalkeeper next season. Deco gave his thoughts on the matter. Advertisement 'I don't have to talk to Ter Stegen. My obligation is to make the best possible team for the coach. This is not my business. In addition, there is no contract in which it says that you are going to play. From here, it is the coach who makes his decision. 'We made a decision to sign a young goalkeeper, which means he can play tomorrow or be on the bench, or play in one or two years' time. We have expectations with Joan that then have to be fulfilled. Everyone who enters here starts from scratch, none of them arrives with an advantage over the others. I have great respect for Marc but with Joan we had to make a decision for the present and the future. The coach will have to decide.'
Daily Mirror
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Hansi Flick set for crisis talks with Barcelona star after £21m transfer
The future of Barcelona star Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been plunged into uncertainty after they completed the signing of fellow goalkeeper Joan Garcia for £21million Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is set to hold crisis talks with captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen amid suggestions that he's being forced out. Barca have just paid £21million to sign Joan Garcia from local rivals Espanyol, with the highly-rated Spaniard expected to be installed as Flick's new No.1 goalkeeper. Barcelona have also offered Wojciech Szczesny a two-year contract extension which the ex-Arsenal shot-stopper has reportedly accepted. That leaves Ter Stegen, 33, third in the goalkeeping pecking order and up for sale, having been sidelined for most of last season with a serious knee injury. Turkish giants Galatasaray have been linked with a move but Ter Stegen isn't planning to leave. That could all change after talks with his manager, though. Catalan outlet Sport report that Barcelona chiefs are counting on Flick to hold a frank conversation with Ter Stegen about his third-choice role if he stays. The former Borussia Monchengladbach star, who joined the La Liga champions in 2014, isn't happy about how the club handled the signing of Garcia, as they didn't consult him before announcing the transfer earlier this week. Speaking at the beginning of this month, Ter Stegen was somewhat bullish about his future. At the time, Garcia was still an Espanyol player and Szczesny was making up his mind on whether to go back into retirement. "I'm not worried. I know that I will be at Barcelona next year," Ter Stegen told reporters. "I haven't spoken to Hansi and there hasn't been any contact in the last few days because I don't see any reason for that at the moment. "No event has occurred that justifies the conversation. Honestly, the focus is here now [international duty with Germany ]. It's a situation that has arisen now. "But I have to say that this is common. Barcelona is probably one of the biggest clubs in the world and there is always competition, no matter the circumstances. That's why it's natural that Barcelona always seek to develop and improve, and that's clear to me. I will always try to do my best." Ter Stegen has enjoyed 11 trophy-laden years at Barca, famously helping them win the treble in his first season. The Germany international has six La Liga titles to his name, although it was academy graduate Inaki Pena and emergency signing Szczesny who mostly wore the gloves during this year's triumph, with Ter Stegen having ruptured his patella tendon in September. Garcia's arrival changes the dynamic of Barcelona's goalkeeping department and the 24-year-old wants to make the No.1 shirt his own. "I'm very happy, culers," he told fans after signing a six-year contract. "I'm really looking forward to sharing great moments with you." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Newcastle to host Espanyol in pre-season friendly
Newcastle will face Spanish side Espanyol at St James' Park on Friday, 8 August, in their first home friendly before the 2025-26 match, which kicks off at 19:30 BST, has been added to bolster preparations for a season in which the Magpies will compete in both the Premier League and Champions coach Eddie Howe is expected to use the fixture to build fitness and cohesion across the squad before Newcastle begin their league campaign at Aston Villa, followed by a home match against defending champions who are marking their 125th anniversary, finished 14th in La Liga in fixture kicks off a busy weekend for the Tyneside club, with Newcastle's men's and women's teams set to take on Atletico Madrid in the Sela Cup on Saturday, 9 August.
