Barcelona’s growing list of injuries has taken another hit, with the club confirming that goalkeeper Joan Garcia has undergone successful knee surgery and will be sidelined for the next four to six weeks.
The 23-year-old shot-stopper, who has gradually been carving out a role for himself under Hansi Flick, sustained the injury during Thursday night’s 3–1 win away to Real Oviedo. Despite finishing the game, Joan Garciawas in clear discomfort, and further medical examinations revealed a torn medial meniscus in his left knee.
On Saturday morning, García went under the knife at the Hospital de Barcelona. The procedure, carried out by Dr. Joan Carles Monllau, was described as an arthroscopy, and the club later issued a statement reassuring supporters that everything had gone smoothly. Recovery will depend on how well García responds to treatment, but the estimated timeline has been set between four and six weeks.
This setback comes at an unfortunate moment for both the player and the club. Joan Garcia has been seen as one of La Masia’s most promising goalkeeping graduates, offering competition to veteran Wojciech Szczęsny and earning Flick’s trust in rotation matches. His performances, while occasionally mixed, have shown signs of maturity and confidence—qualities that now will be put on pause until at least late October.
In the meantime, Szczęsny will step back into the No. 1 role on a full-time basis, providing Flick with stability and experience between the posts. The 35-year-old Pole has already featured in several games this season and will now be tasked with guiding a defense that has been under scrutiny in recent weeks.
Barcelona are also expected to recall young American goalkeeper Diego Kochen from international duty with the United States Under-20 team. Kochen, just 19, will provide cover on the bench and continue to gain valuable exposure to first-team life at the Ciutat Esportiva.
For García, the focus will be on recovery and ensuring that his return is not rushed. Knee injuries can be delicate, and while the timeline is relatively short, Barcelona’s medical staff will be cautious to avoid any setbacks.
Supporters will hope that when he does come back, Joan Garcia can pick up where he left off—competing for his place and showing why many inside the club still see him as a long-term option in goal.
