The goal of Espanyol One of the most transcendental summers of recent years faces. With the more than probable output of Joan Garcíawhich maintains a verbal agreement with the Arsenal (Although still without a signature), the sports direction is in the process of reflection to define who will defend the blue and white goal next season.
The image left by the last match in Mestalla was quite revealing: Joan Garcíainjured in the 20th minute after taking his hand to the back of the right thigh, forced Manolo González to move card on the bench. The chosen one to heat? Fortuño Angel. Fernando Pacheco, For his part, he remained as a spectator. A gesture that, although punctual, reflects the current state of the hierarchies in the goal.
Pachecowith a contract until 2026, he would have recently received a downward renewal proposal, specifically 50% of his file, as Luis Leirós revealed. An offer that, in principle, would remove the continuity of the veteran goalkeeper as the first option. Meanwhile, Fortune Keep gaining ground. The young goalkeeper, formed in the house from Benjamin category, has the support of a weight figure like Tommy N’kono, who said without ambiguity: “Fortune You are ready to make the leap. ”
Although Fortune He has not yet debuted his progression, his progression is constant. The goalkeeper himself, in recent statements to the channel of Twitch by Javier de Haro, he showed his preparation to assume major responsibilities: “You have to be prepared for when the opportunity comes. With Joan It has been seen that it can happen. ”And, aware of the doubts that his stature can generate, he did not hesitate to claim:” I have other qualities, the day the opportunity comes, I will be ready. “
However, the Espanyol handle more options on the table. One of them is that Joan García He ends up arriving at one of the great Spanish clubs, such as Real Madrid or Atlético de Madrid, but with a clause that allows him to continue defending the Perica goal as a loan for one or two more years. It would be a strategic operation that would allow the club to enter a significant amount due to the transfer, but without losing in the short term one of the goalkeepers with the greatest projection of the national scene.
The other alternative is to go to the market in search of a new goalkeeper. And in this scenario, the name of Leo Romaniangoalkeeper of Mallorcahas begun to win prominence. The Ibizan goal, which ends contract in 2026, is going through a delicate situation in its current club. Although the coaching staff bet on him as a goalkeeper of the future, Romanian He has rejected the renewal offers that have been presented to him, which has resulted in a kind of “punishment” by the club, which has chosen to relegate it to the bench. His participation in the League has been testimonial this 2025, limiting himself to a single game, in addition to his performance in Cup against Pontevedra.
The tension between the player and the Mallorcan entity was evident in his recent statements, after having minutes in the League: “In the end it is complicated because I have not played months. I try to be concentrated and very involved in the training to take advantage of the opportunities and demonstrate to the people of doors out because of doors for doors inside there would not have any doubt, that my situation is a bit … I do not know how to classify it.” And, in a later interview for Movistar Plusit was even clearer: “I am not receiving enough opportunities. Today you can see that my situation is not the one I played, not for my partner, but for the management of the club.”
With this situation on the table, the Espanyol You must decide in the coming weeks which is the way to follow: to bet on a definitive way for Fortuneguarantee the continuity of Joan García Through a assignment after sale, or reinforce the goal with a signing that provides guarantees. The decision will not be simple, but it will mark the course of the team in a key position for the immediate future.
