This Is How Joan García Found Out He Had Been Called up to the Spain National Team

Joan García was waiting for Spain’s squad announcement without much optimism. But in the least expected place, inside Barcelona’s gym, came the news that changed his career: his first senior national team call-up.

A Friday full of hope… but little expectation

When Joan García arrived at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, the excitement was still there. Like many other days when Spain’s national team squad list was announced, the FC Barcelona goalkeeper held onto the hope that his name might appear among those selected by Luis de la Fuente.

However, the context did not exactly suggest good news. In the hours leading up to the announcement, several indications pointed toward continuity in Spain’s goalkeeping options. According to information reported by Mundo Deportivo, people close to the player had received signals suggesting that Álex Remiro was almost certain to keep his place in the squad.

That rumor gradually spread and created the feeling that Joan García’s opportunity might have to wait a little longer. Still, the 24-year-old goalkeeper stuck to his routine: occasionally checking his phone, chatting about the squad list with those closest to him, and continuing with his day at the club.

There was also a small concern regarding his physical condition. After a scare during a match against Newcastle, doctors from the Royal Spanish Football Federation had checked on his status. But Barcelona quickly reassured everyone: the goalkeeper was fully fit and available.

The unexpected moment in the gym

With that background, Joan García headed to the gym to continue his personalized fitness program, as he was not training with the main group that day.

It was there—away from cameras and any kind of staged moment—where everything suddenly changed.

While he was working out, a member of the technical staff approached him and delivered the sentence he had been waiting to hear for weeks:

“You’ve been called up to the senior national team.”

There was no ceremony, no dramatic locker-room reveal, and no public announcement around him. Just that direct, unexpected, and career-changing moment.

The most curious detail? Joan was training shirtless. The news caught him completely off guard, and he did not even stop to grab a shirt before reacting.

An immediate reaction: calling his family

His reaction was purely instinctive.

The first thing Joan García did was rush to his phone. When he picked it up, it was already filled with messages and missed calls, a sign that the news had started to spread.

Standing near the ramp at the Ciutat Esportiva, the goalkeeper began returning calls.

The first ones were to the most important people in his life: his parents, Jerónimo and Teresa. After that, he called his partner, Anna, and then reached out to his agents, Juanma López and Aitor Banda.

The moment showed just how much the call-up meant to him. It was not only a professional milestone but also the result of years of dedication and patience.

A reward many at Barcelona saw coming

Once the news was confirmed, the atmosphere around the Ciutat Esportiva quickly shifted.

Teammates, members of the coaching staff, and club employees began approaching him to offer their congratulations. Hugs, pats on the back, and words of pride became a constant throughout the day.

Inside Barcelona, the feeling was clear: Joan García’s call-up was not surprising because of his level, but because it seemed inevitable.

In just half a season with the blaugrana club, the goalkeeper from Sallent has not only earned valuable minutes between the posts but has also gained the respect and trust of the entire environment around the team.

His first call-up to La Roja is, for many, only the beginning. It is even notable that Luis de la Fuente decided to include four goalkeepers in the squad, something unusual during international breaks.