Barcelona's first signing of the summer is one which stokes fires within the Catalan city as goalkeeper Joan García arrives from rivals Espanyol. But it could also potentially push the long-term No. 1 and captain Marc-André ter Stegen out of the club.
García, 24, had drawn Premier League interest (mainly from Arsenal) over the past 12 months and supporters of Espanyol would have loved to have seen him move to England if it meant he didn't become the first player to move directly to Barça since Igor Korneev in 1994, seven years before García was even born.
However, the lure of staying local and joining the LaLiga champions, who are led by a young core of stars including Lamine Yamal and Pedri, proved too strong. Sources told ESPN that Barça acted quickly to sign the player because his €25 million release clause was "an incredible market opportunity."
In fear of a backlash, García turned off comments on his social media channels as he announced he was crossing the divide, but the consequences of the transfer may yet be bigger inside Barça than outside.
There is already a concerted push for Ter Stegen to leave, although the 33-year-old Germany international, for now, remains steadfast in his desire to stay. The summer is long, though, and the signing of García will lead to repercussions in the goalkeeping department, even if that means Wojciech Szczesny and Iñaki Peña depart rather than Ter Stegen.
Why did Barça need a new goalkeeper?
When coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco addressed Barça's needs this summer, there were no obvious areas where the starting XI could be immediately improved. However, sources told ESPN there was an acknowledgement the team was not the finished article and that, to move to the next level, tweaks would be needed to aid the side's evolution.
There was a feeling that certain positions needed more depth and competition. Deco told ESPN last month one area where that is the case is on the wings, due to a reliance on Yamal and Raphinha.
Another position where recruits have been explored, ESPN previously reported, is at full-back, although the club are now prioritizing other signings.
There are also two other positions where Barça have known for a while they needed to strengthen sooner or later. The first is a center-forward, with Robert Lewandowski turning 37 this summer and out of contract next year. The second, a goalkeeper, was not necessarily viewed as urgent, but has become an issue following an injury to Ter Stegen last September and a leaky backline costing the team in the latter stages of the Champions League.
It has been nine years since there was any debate about the goalkeeper position. In the summer of 2016, Ter Stegen, after two years playing only in cup competitions, told the club it was either him or Claudio Bravo. Barça picked Ter Stegen; Bravo joined Manchester City.
Any hopes Peña had of being the long-term No. 1 disappeared when Ter Stegen got injured and Barça asked former Juventus and Arsenal goalkeeper Szczesny to come out of retirement. Peña kept the gloves for a while, but was eventually replaced by Szczesny and, sources told ESPN, is open to leaving.
Ter Stegen returned from a ruptured tendon ahead of schedule to make two inconsequential appearances at the end of the season, but sources say Barça already had in the back of their mind that if the right goalkeeper became available, maybe it was time to invest.
