Joan García to Barcelona: Moisés Hurtado Reacts to Controversial Transfer
Moisés Hurtado, former Espanyol player, analyzed on ‘Qué t’hi Jugues’ the imminent signing of the goalkeeper by Barça.
Joan García has given the OK to sign for Barça and will defend the azulgrana goal next season. A decision that surprised many Espanyol fans, even former players like Moisés Hurtado, a collaborator on Què t’hi Jugues!, where he explained his “surprise” at the decision. “I didn’t expect it because I don’t think it’s a good option for him,” he continued.
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The former Espanyol player pointed out that the big mistake players make nowadays is kissing the badge. “And he did it. Knowing Joan and his character, I think the ones who made the decision are the agents. They are the ones who gained, along with the commission they must have taken. I don’t understand, with all the possibilities he had, why he would go to a major rival after kissing the badge just a week ago,” he lamented on SER’s microphones.
For Moisés, the current Espanyol goalkeeper, a great revelation in LaLiga, had many more options to choose from —”any team he wanted”— and has chosen the biggest rival of his club. “I’m surprised that if Arsenal wanted him last year, they don’t want him now?” he asked. And for him, Barça is not the best destination because he doesn’t have guaranteed starting status since he will be competing with three other goalkeepers: Ter Stegen, Szczesny, and Iñaki Peña.
“It won’t be easy for him to play, playing for Barça is not like playing for Espanyol due to the playing style and the environment…” he reiterated.
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Precisely the German, after the Nations League match against Portugal, did not want to talk about the situation in the team and the possible arrival of Joan García. “It’s not a topic for today, now we’re talking about the national team and I’m focused on that. What happens in my club we’ll talk about another time. I spoke about it a few weeks ago and I have nothing more to add for now,” he said after being eliminated. What the goalkeeper said weeks ago was that “no one from Barça has told him anything about his future” and that his intention is “to stay in Barcelona.”
However, Joan García’s move affects his sporting and economic progression, as he was earning 300,000 euros gross at Espanyol. A figure that astonished the members of Què t’hi Jugues! but that Moisés Hurtado saw as normal for players coming from the youth team without a long career path, as is the case of the goalkeeper from Sallent. “When you come out of the youth team, you have a youth team contract. That’s how Jofre, Roca, Melamed were when they left…” he continued. “You have to keep in mind that salaries in football are not based on what you do, but on what you have done,” he added.
Joan García’s transfer was expected, but what the pericos didn’t expect is that, among all the teams he had to choose from, he would pick Barcelona. “I find it hard to believe that Barça is the team that paid him the most, given their current financial situation,” the former footballer concluded. What is certain is that the goalkeeper will become the second-biggest sale in Espanyol’s history for 25 million euros, only surpassed by Borja Iglesias’ move to Betis.
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“I know Joan, he’s a humble and excellent guy, I hope he doesn’t have that big-club arrogance. I’ll be happy if he’s happy. I wish him the best, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that the decision surprised me. For many fans, it was a love that just started and that had saved us, our idol and messiah, and it felt like a stab,” Moisés Hurtado finished.
