Espanyol sporting director Fran Garagarza has made it clear Joan García was gutted after his side rejected Arsenal’s bid last summer.
The La Liga side avoid relegation with a 2-0 win over UD Las Palmas at the weekend, and the goalkeeper is expected to leave in the summer window, a year after Arsenal failed to sign him.
Garagarza has been speaking to Cadena Ser’s Carrusel Deportivo and [Mundo Deportivo](https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/rcd-espanyol/20250526/1002471936/consta-interes-barca-joan-garcia.html#google_vignette) have relayed his comments.
The Spaniard has a €25m release clause which will rise to €30m for the last 15 days of the window. Towards the end of last summer, the Gunners arrived with a €20m bid, which was short of his release clause.
Garagarza has given insight into the 24-year-old’s reaction when Espanyol rejected the Premier League club’s proposal.
_“It was with La Liga just underway and three days away from the deadline. The look on his face during that conversation almost made me feel sorry for him; I saw him as if he were my son. He was told the time would come, and it will,”_ he said.
Mikel Arteta’s side are still keen on signing the stopper and can return in the upcoming window, but face tough competition.
Earlier today, [Mundo Deportivo reported](https://sportwitness.co.uk/player-has-offers-from-arsenal-aston-villa-and-bournemouth-rival-optimistic-of-beating-pl-trio-step-below-them/) Barcelona are considerinf a move for García, who also has offers from Arsenal, Aston Villa and AFC Bournemouth.
The Espanyol director insists he isn’t aware of Barcelona’s interest in the goalkeeper. He also sent a message to García’s other suitors, including Arsenal, on the conditions needed to sign him.
_“There are certain amounts that teams interested in him have to accept, and that’s going to have to be the case given his level. There will be many clubs considering doing so. This is going to take a long time,”_ Garagarza explained.
_“It’s going to be the clause. But the argument is very simple: the player’s value. The player is worth it. If he had a higher clause, he’d also have that value. If we look at the transfers that have taken place with goalkeepers of our level, they’ve paid that much and more. We don’t have to consider things other than that. It’s not asking for more than he’s worth, but the opposite. For me, the kid has exceptional value.”_