Espaynol CEO Mao Ye Wu has played down talk that [Joan Garcia](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2025/5/27/24437890/joan-garcia-breaks-silence-on-espanyol-future-amid-barcelona-transfer-talk) is on the brink of a move to Barcelona.
Garcia is expected to join Barcelona shortly after the [Catalan giants activate his €25 million release clause](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2025/6/4/24442879/barcelona-to-activate-joan-garcias-25m-release-clause-after-goalkeeper-agrees-move).
Yet the Espanyol chief has told Mundo Deportivo that nothing has happened yet and it’s all just ‘noise’.
> “Over the last week, I know there’s been a lot of noise, but it’s just noise. Nothing has happened.
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> “As of today, Joan Garcia is an Espanyol player. We have to respect the right of every professional to choose their own path, but at the club, we’re committed to the contract we’ve signed, and we know that to make this decision, there’s a release clause that’s deposited and releases the contract. But beyond that, we have nothing to negotiate.
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> “There has been no official contact, neither from any club nor from the player.”
Barcelona are thought to have already reached an agreement with Garcia and reports have suggested they will pay his release clause next week.
Mao Ye admits he hasn’t heard from Garcia since the end of the season but acknowledges he has the right to decide if he wants to move on.
> “The player is currently an Espanyol player; he has his clause. He has the right to choose his professional career; we have to understand each person’s personal decision, but the contract is the contract, and we have to respect what is signed. We have no intention of negotiating the clause. Not with Barça or with anyone else,” he added.
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> “We haven’t had any contact with the player since the last match. The players are on vacation, and we’re trying to respect this rest period equally with everyone. We’re trying to finalize other deals, but we haven’t had any contact with Joan.”
Espanyol obviously don’t want to lose their goalkeeper, particularly to their city rivals, but it would be a surprise now if this deal doesn’t go through.