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Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia says he ‘isolated’ himself away from incessant rumours of a possible move to Arsenal in the summer transfer window.
Arsenal identified Garcia as a potential replacement for Aaron Ramsdale, who left the north London giants to join Southampton after losing his place to David Raya in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI.
Reports emanating from Spain indicated that Arsenal had even agreed personal terms with Garcia’s camp over a proposed £25million move to the Emirates.
However, talks between the two clubs collapsed at the final hurdle, with the Gunners failing to satisfy Espanyol’s hefty financial demands for the 23-year-old ‘keeper.
Resigned to their fate, Arsenal eventually abandoned their pursuit of Garcia and instead wrapped up a season-long loan agreement for Bournemouth shot-stopper Neto.
Garcia has gone on to start all but one of Espanyol’s games in La Liga this season and the Spaniard insists he has no lingering disappointment about Arsenal’s failed proposal.
‘I tried to isolate myself from everything that was being said,’ Garcia told Spanish publication Marca.
‘I had been given the opportunity to do something I had been fighting for for a long time, which was to be Espanyol’s starting goalkeeper.
‘I couldn’t waste this opportunity.’
Garcia, who won a gold medal with Spain at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, is tied into a contract at Espanyol until 2028.
But after Arsenal’s unsuccessful move for Garcia, Espanyol’s sporting director, Fran Garagarza, refused to rule out a move for the goalkeeper at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
‘It is something that I think should not be talked about so much,’ Garcia replied.
‘I try not to let it affect me and try to be isolated, although it is complicated.
‘I think I am handling it quite well, I cannot control it. It is not affecting me.
Whatever will be, will be.’
Garcia is confident Espanyol will come through their sticky patch, with the club languishing down in 18th place in the Spanish top flight ahead of their trip to Girona this weekend.
‘The important thing is the team’s performance,’ he added.
‘Personally, I think I’m doing well, but I’m demanding and I think I can do much better.
‘We are very clear that we will get through this.
He continued: ‘We are in the best condition, we have made good use of the break and we are looking forward to playing again.
‘Nobody likes to look at the table and see themselves so far down.
‘Now is a key moment of the season and we must make a statement and distance ourselves from the bottom.’
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