Atlético de Madrid might have had one of the best goalkeepers in LaLiga on their radar, but they let the opportunity slip. This was revealed last night by David Sánchez on COPE, stating that someone from the Spanish Football Federation recommended the red-and-white club to sign Joan García. The Espanyol goalkeeper is the revelation of the season and has caught the attention of major European clubs.
Joan García, Espanyol's Wall and an Option for Atlético de Madrid
Monday's match between Espanyol and Girona served to confirm what many already knew: Joan García is one of the best goalkeepers in LaLiga. His interventions prevented his team from losing, with decisive saves that left Girona's strikers with no options. Even Cristhian Stuani, who scored the equalizing goal, was surprised by the goalkeeper's level. "I don't know how he did it," he confessed after the match.
The talent of the "perico" goalkeeper hasn't gone unnoticed. Teams like Arsenal already showed interest in signing him last summer, but Espanyol referred to his 25M euro release clause. Now, his name is once again making waves in the market, and Atlético might have had the chance to get ahead of their competitors.
The Recommendation Atlético de Madrid Ignored
During El Partidazo de COPE, David Sánchez revealed a surprising fact. "Someone from the RFEF told someone from Atlético de Madrid, about a year ago, to sign this guy because he's going to be the national team's starter."
The journalist's words reinforce the idea that Joan García is destined to be Spain's goalkeeper in the future. Joseba Larrañaga described him as "a scandal," while Isaac Fouto stated that "he's the best goalkeeper in LaLiga by far." Additionally, Guille Uzquiano went further and claimed that he should be drafted by Luis de la Fuente for the next FIFA date.
Rubén Uría Spoke About His Signing
A few weeks ago, during his Twitch program, he spoke about Joan García's connection with Atlético de Madrid. The Spanish journalist commented that the red-and-white club is closely following him and has him on their agenda for the future.
At Atlético, they want to secure the goalkeeping position for the coming years, as Jan Oblak is already 32 years old. The Slovenian is performing at a high level this season, but age is catching up, and they need to find a goalkeeper with total reliability.