Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia reveals how his older brother inspired his football career: ‘I wanted to be like him’
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Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia has opened up about the family influence that shaped his football career, revealing the role his older brother played in his decision to become a goalkeeper.
The Spanish shot-stopper is one of the first names on the team sheet for Hansi Flick and is on his way to becoming one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Joan Garcia reveals the inspiration behind his career
As quoted by Diario SPORT, the 25-year-old reflected on his childhood, his journey from Espanyol to Barcelona and the challenges of establishing himself at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
“My father had played football, and I have an older brother, seven years older than me, who is a goalkeeper,” Garcia explained.
“I started playing as an outfield player when I was six, but after going to watch him so often, I said I wanted to be like him.”
Joan Garcia reveals how he became a goalkeeper. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
That childhood decision eventually set Garcia on the path to professional football, although his journey to Barcelona was far from straightforward.
The Catalan spent nine years at Espanyol, developing a strong connection with the club before deciding that a move to Barcelona represented the next step in his career.
Garcia acknowledged the emotional difficulty of leaving Espanyol but viewed the transfer as an opportunity to pursue his ambitions at the highest level.
Garcia embracing the demands of Barcelona
The goalkeeper also discussed the importance of managing pressure and criticism, explaining that he has worked on his mental approach to remain calm in difficult situations.
On the pitch, Garcia considers himself a brave goalkeeper who enjoys contributing to his team’s build-up play.
This is often visible in how he controls the ball under pressure and tries to pick out a pass instead of hoofing it clear.
Joan Garcia made the brave switch from Espanyol to Barcelona. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)
His adaptation to Barcelona has also been helped by team-mates such as Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo.
For Hansi Flick, Garcia’s willingness to participate in possession is particularly valuable. For a team like Barça, it is paramount to have a keeper comfortable on the ball.
Joan Garcia is set to take his place between the sticks for Barça against Real Madrid in El Clasico later tonight.
The Spaniard will be keen to help his team secure the win and, in the process, hopefully keep a clean sheet.
It is interesting to see Joan’s mentality and the hard yards that have brought him to this stage in his career, and it remains to be seen how he fares tonight.