Barcelona star’s national team call-up considered certain amid superlative form

Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia continues to shine bright with one stellar performance after another between the sticks.

Despite his exceptional form last season with Espanyol and now with Barça, the 24-year-old shot-stopper has been constantly overlooked by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente for a national team call-up.

However, that seems set to change in the coming months.

Joan Garcia’s Spain breakthrough imminent

Indeed, as per Movistar+ and COPE (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Spain coach De la Fuente has decided to call up the Barcelona goalkeeper for the match against Argentina in March.

Although the national team coaching staff have avoided addressing the issue directly, arguing that it is still too early to discuss the next squad list, Joan Garcia’s inclusion for the Finalissima is now considered certain.

Spain will play the Finalissima against the Argentine national football team on Friday, 29 March in Doha, Qatar. As things stand, Garcia’s call-up is considered a lock-in for the game.

Spain call-up imminent for Joan Garcia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

However, there has been no discussion beyond this match, and no reference has been made to the World Cup in the summer.

This comes after Barcelona’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Athletic Club in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final and after comments made by Juanjo Gonzalez, assistant coach of the Spanish national team, during the second half of the game.

He stated: “There is still a long way to go, but it is exceptional news that Joan is growing at a great club like Barcelona, that he is performing at the level he is and that he makes it difficult for us.

“We have been following him for some time. He is a great lad and we know him”.

Gonzalez also clarified: “Looking so many months ahead, it is very premature and many things can happen, but Joan, with that level and his personality, of course, he is involved in the battle to be among the candidates selected”.