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The champions’ settled squad has a new leader in Dougie Brown but signs are that their success will continue

George Dobell06-Apr-2013Last year: Champions, CC Div 1; Group stages, T20; Finalists, CB402012 in a nutshell: Warwickshire looked the strongest team in Championship cricket by some distance in 2012. A stable squad balanced by several allrounders, a potent seam attack and a batting line-up that stretched beyond the horizon lost only once in the Championship and deservedly won the title. And they did it despite the long-term absence through injury of the two men, Boyd Rankin and Chris Woakes, who were expected to make most impression with the ball. Three bowlers – Chris Wright, Keith Barker and Jeetan Patel, a sound if unglamorous choice of overseas player – claimed over 50 wickets and Varun Chopra was one of only two England-qualified batsmen to score 1,000 Division One runs. They were a force in List A cricket, too, reaching the final of the CB40. While the T20 campaign was a disappointment, the level of rain disruption provided some mitigation.2013 prospects: There seems little reason to doubt Warwickshire will again feature prominently in this year’s Championship title race. Most of the architects of last year’s success remain, with youth on their side and the added incentive of international ambitions to fulfil. The attack is impressively well balanced, with pace, swing and left-arm variety and the batting, despite a fragility towards the top, is so deep (15 players on the staff have first-class centuries to their name) that it affords the opportunity to fight back from poor starts. If all the key seamers – Woakes, Wright, Barker, Rankin and Rikki Clarke – are available, Warwickshire will have an enviable opportunity to rest and rotate. If there is a weakness, it could be the top-order batting. More will be required from the likes of William Porterfield, Jim Troughton and Darren Maddy if Warwickshire are to fulfil their talk of creating a new legacy at Edgbaston to match that achieved by the team of the mid-1990s. Warwickshire have often looked the fittest squad in the county game in recent years, with their minimum fitness levels 10% above that of the England sides.Perhaps Warwickshire’s biggest threat is becoming a victim of their own success. Apart from losing their director of cricket, Ashley Giles, to England, they could also be without up to six players at times this summer as England and Lions call-ups bite into their resources. The other possible weakness is the overreliance on Tim Ambrose, who has a history of hip trouble, as the only other keeper on the staff is 18-year-old Peter McKay. They remain favourites to retain the Championship title, though, and should remain dangerous in the limited-overs competitions.Key player: Clarke balances this side. A fast bowler, middle-order batsman and irreplaceable slip fielder, Clarke has finally developed into the allrounder his talent always suggested he could be. It should be of some concern to Warwickshire that he is out of contract at the end of the season.Bright young thing: Keith Barker played his first full season in 2012 but he ended it with a reputation as arguably the best left-arm new-ball bowler in the county game. If he can find some extra pace – and his physique suggests he can – he will be of interest to England. The 17-year-old batsman Sam Hain is unlikely to play in the first team this year but looks to be a young man with a bright future.Captain/coach: Dougie Brown has replaced Giles as director of cricket and, alongside the captain, Troughton, forms a leadership that is steeped in the history of the club. It surely bodes well that they will understand one another and have shared goals and values. It is worth noting that Brown was not the first choice of many in the dressing room, though. Many of the players would have plumped for Graeme Welch, who remains as assistant coach and bowling coach.ESPNcricinfo verdict: Justifiably favourites to retain the Championship title. Such is the depth and age-profile of this squad that they should challenge consistently for the foreseeable future.

He has earned a spot in India’s Test squad, but with plenty of other young India batsmen knocking on the door, Rohit Sharma knows he needs to make opportunities count

Nagraj Gollapudi18-Nov-2011On May 31, 2011 Duncan Fletcher met Rohit Sharma for the first time. Fletcher’s opening words to him were: “I want to see you play for India in a Test match because I have heard so many things about you. It is very unfortunate that you have still not played a Test match.” Rohit narrates this shortly before the start of the second day’s play in Mumbai and Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy match at the Brabourne stadium.Now, Rohit is one step closer to fulfilling his dream of playing in a Test. On Thursday, he was drafted into the India squad in place of Yuvraj Singh for the third Test against West Indies, starting in Mumbai from November 22. It was an unexpected call-up. Rohit expected to be selected for the five-match ODI series, starting at the end of the month, and he wanted to focus on playing for Mumbai till then.”My plan was to play at least four to five Ranji matches, perform, score a lot of runs and then perform well in the ODI series against West Indies. I thought if I perform consistently I would stand a chance of going to Australia.”This is the third time Rohit will be part of India’s Test squad: the first was in 2008 in Sri Lanka, and the next was when he was called up as back-up for VVS Laxman for the Nagpur Test against South Africa in February 2010. In Sri Lanka he was a rookie but against South Africa he was set to make his Test debut before he turned his ankle while playing football on the morning of the match.Even though he was one of the IPL’s brightest stars, Rohit had to return to the barren lands of domestic cricket and wait in hope for the next Test call-up. He did not brood too much about what might have been. He finished the 2009-10 Ranji season with 527 runs at an average of 87.83. His unbeaten 309 against Gujarat came off 322 balls, 28 more deliveries than he had faced in the whole of the 2007-08 season. Last season he improved his aggregate to 732 runs in six matches at 122, with a highest score of 200 not out.Equally impressive were his ODI statistics in the period after the twisted ankle in Nagpur. Between February 2010 and now, Rohit has averaged 57.84 at Nos. 4 and 5. This is third behind Michael Clarke and AB de Villiers for these positions (minimum 750 runs). He also has the fourth-best average in the same period among Indian batsmen. In the West Indies he was the top run-maker in the five-match ODI series. He then sustained a freak finger injury early in the one-day series in England.The selectors had their eye on him, and Surendra Bhave, a member of the national selection panel, watched his century against Rajasthan, Mumbai’s second-round opponents this season, closely. It was Rohit’s second hundred in as many matches, following a match-winning 175 against Railways on a tricky pitch where the bounce was uneven and not many batsmen were comfortable.”Since Nagpur I have been trying to get into the Test squad, [and now] I am happy to be included,” Rohit says. He believes his form in the West Indies and the Ranji hundreds “must have done the trick for me.”There seem, though, to remain a few creases in his batting and mindset that need to be ironed out. Against Rajasthan, three balls after getting his century, Rohit tried to clear the in-field and was caught at mid-off. He admits now it was irresponsible.”I was disappointed. I was in good flow and we were chasing 530; facing runs on the board always make it difficult. My plan was to go after the bowlers, and although that shot was not required that is how I play my game. It was a nice pitch to bat on, the ball was coming on to the bat and it suited my batting, and they only had four bowlers. So I thought why not put them under pressure? That was my gameplan but it did not work out.”In his chats with Fletcher, one of the most valuable tips he has received has been about mental discipline. “He spoke about how to build an innings, especially in Test cricket,” Rohit says. “He spoke about the kind of temperament needed to play Test cricket. He said even if you are not 100 % correct in technique, if you are mentally strong and you show the right character you are bound to succeed.”He says Fletcher and MS Dhoni, the India captain, want him to prove his Test credentials by playing longer innings in one-day cricket. “Their message to me is even if I play 70 balls I will still score 60 runs. I usually bat at Nos. 5, 6, 7, and come to the crease around the 35-over mark. When you bat in those positions character is very important. If you do not show the right character and lose your focus there are obstacles which come in your way. I need to be calm in situations where I have to play my shots but not take too many chances.”The most important thing, he reckons, that has changed in the time after the injury in Nagpur is that he has learned game. “I have become more mature.” After the 175 against Railways, people told him they had never seen him bat like that.Rohit is aware that in Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina he has strong and talented competition. “If I play the Test, this or any other, I will play as if it is my last Test match. I have to think in that fashion. There is a lot of competition for that one spot. I do not want to miss out on it now. I do not want to give it easily to anyone.”

In the second CB Series final, Andrew Symonds taught a streaker a hard lesson. A selection of what people had to say about the incident

07-Mar-2008

None of your cheek© AFP
“I’d definitely like to have a tackle like that on my resumé. And I don’t think that streaker will be running onto cricket grounds any more.”
“I reckon it was awesome. It’s the best hit I’ve seen for ages. We should sign him up.”
“He didn’t drive through properly. He didn’t finish the tackle off.””Would he have done the same if the streaker was a woman?”
“It was great actually … it was just like playing football.”
“I only saw it live and it looked like the guy was running at him, and Andrew to some extent tried to protect himself.”
“He [Symonds] was dealing with self-preservation, which we support 100 percent. Andrew was in the zone and was severely threatened.”
“It’d just be an absurdity if he was prosecuted for assault because he took firm but reasonable and proportionate action to deal with someone who was invading the pitch at a particularly difficult time of the match.”
“He could have done some injury to Andrew Symonds, because he seemed to run straight at him and all of a sudden he is on his back.”
“No. Wake up to yourself.”
“I’d just got out, so I was sooking. I haven’t seen it yet. There’s been a bit of talk and laughter around the dressing room, but I haven’t spoken to Symmo about it”
“The Indians are on to something with their Symonds obsession. The land of gurus and enlightenment know that we have a cricketer so neanderthal that he should sleep in a cage.”
Daily Telegraph’s

Bad weather and a lack of access to the series venue has dogged the team ahead of the ODIs in Chelmsford

Mohammad Isam08-May-2023Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe has termed his side’s preparations for the ODI series against Ireland less than ideal, referring to his team’s lack of practice time and access to the series venue, the Cloud County ground in Chelmsford.The series begins on May 9, with all three matches to be played in Chelmsford, a venue chosen by Cricket Ireland keeping in mind the chances of wet weather back in Ireland. Bangladesh landed in the UK on May 1, but they could only enter the match venue on May 8, the eve of the first ODI, since Chelmsford was hosting a County Championship game between Essex and Surrey from May 4 to 7.After arriving on May 1, Bangladesh had two training sessions in Cambridge before their practice match was washed out. They did a bit of indoor training at the Fenners facility before their May 7 session was called off due to a wet outfield. When asked about their preparation on Monday, Hathurusinghe didn’t mince his words.”It [preparation] is a unique situation,” he said. “We are playing Ireland in England. So normally it doesn’t happen too often. I can’t blame anyone. It is the first time. If we knew this is the case, we wouldn’t have agreed to this kind of schedule. This is not ideal preparation. I won’t blame anyone. We will learn from this one.”Hathurusinghe suggested that since conditions in Chelmsford would be dissimilar to those that are likely to be on offer during the Asia Cup and World Cup later this year, the Ireland series would be important for Bangladesh only in terms of results.”We are not going to play similar conditions in India,” he said. “We will concentrate to winning in these conditions. How we can play. We are not looking too much into the World Cup, in these conditions.”Bangladesh’s players and coaching staff got their first look at the Chelmsford pitch. “The wicket is very good. It is very hard underneath,” Hathurusinghe said. “It has a tinge of green on top but hard underneath. It was under covers for the last few days because of the rain. There was also [the county] match here till yesterday.”Hathurusinghe believes Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s emergence as a ‘genuine allrounder’ has given Bangladesh the option of playing an extra batter or bowler depending on conditions•AP Photo/Aijaz RahiMehidy Hasan Miraz’s emergence as a batting force, Hathurusinghe said, was helping Bangladesh achieve better balance as a team, giving them the option of extending their batting or bowling depending on conditions.”He is a genuine batter with a Test and an ODI century,” he said. “We can treat him as a genuine allrounder. We have another genuine allrounder in Shakib Al Hasan. We are very fortunate with our combination. Extra batter or bowler, we will decide tomorrow morning.”Any coach would love to have this luxury. We are fortunate to have two genuine allrounders. Not many teams have that. We will definitely use it to our advantage.”He also looked forward to the likes of Towhid Hridoy, Rony Talukdar and Mrittunjoy Chowdhury gaining experience on their first tour with the senior team.”It is a good opportunity for [Rony and Hridoy] to understand that international cricket is played in all kinds of conditions. I hope they can prove to themselves that they can do the same thing [on their first tour].”[Mrittunjoy] would be a very effective bowler in these conditions. He has a really good wrist position. What I saw so far is encouraging.”

Bastian Schweinsteiger believes Manuel Neuer is the only solution for Germany's goalkeeper crisis ahead of the World Cup.

Schweinsteiger advocates for the return of NeuerSays veteran’s experience will help GermanyTer Stegen sidelined with a serious back injuryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Amid Germany's ongoing goalkeeper debate, former German international Schweinsteiger has publicly advocated for a shock return for Neuer. Schweinsteiger made the comments ahead of Germany's World Cup qualifying match against Slovakia. The public discussion has been reignited due to a back injury that has sidelined Germany's regular number one, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has also lost his starting spot at Barcelona.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT SCHWEINSTEIGER SAID?

Speaking on Schweinsteiger was clear and direct about his solution to Germany's goalkeeping predicament, stating that there is only one logical choice in his opinion.

"When it comes to this topic, I always look around the world to see who has a German passport," he said. "And then I end up with Manuel Neuer. He recently demonstrated his exceptional performance at the Club World Cup. I would bring Manuel Neuer back, he has that certain aura. Once you've been a World Cup champion, you want to experience that feeling again. To have the chance to experience it a second and a third time."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The German Football Association (DFB) is facing a goalkeeper dilemma with the 2026 World Cup approaching. Ter Stegen's back surgery and a previous knee injury have severely limited his playing time, a situation made worse by him losing his first-team place at Barcelona. This has created an opportunity for others to stake a claim for the number one shirt.

While Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has stated that a fully fit and match-experienced Ter Stegen remains his first choice, the Barca keeper's long-term availability is now in doubt. This has led many, including Schweinsteiger, to look to Neuer, who officially retired from international football in the summer of 2024. Despite his age, Neuer has recently demonstrated his world-class form for Bayern Munich, most notably during the Club World Cup.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR GERMANY?

With Ter Stegen out for the foreseeable future, Nagelsmann has entrusted Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann to fill the goalkeeping void. However, the discussion surrounding Neuer's potential comeback is unlikely to go away, especially if Germany struggles in their upcoming qualifying matches.

Schweinsteiger's 2014 World Cup teammate retired from the German national team after 124 international appearances following the European Championship on home soil in the summer of 2024. Schweinsteiger does not believe it would be a problem to convince the Bayern captain to make a comeback: "He's fit, he plays at a top level – why not?"

Coleen Rooney has turned into a detective after starring in a hilarious new sketch that sees her investigating Manchester City's 115 charges.

Coleen Rooney turns detectiveInvestigates Man City's 115 chargesDelivers justice for fans in parody videoFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 39-year-old, who is married to Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney, teamed up with Paddy Power to announce its record-breaking 'Justice Refund'. In the video, she fronts a satirical 'Investigation Department' that, among other matters, looks into City's long-running financial fair play trial. The former I'm A Celebrity contestant presents her findings on the case and delivers her verdict, with a knowing look. 

AdvertisementWHAT COLEEN ROONEY SAID

She told Paddy Power: "Fans invest so much into football, emotionally and financially, and sometimes it feels like they don’t get much back. This was a fun way to shine a light on that, whilst actually giving something back to the people who make the game what it is."

A Paddy Power spokesperson added: "This FFP investigation has been dragging on for years and years, with fans being left completely in the dark. So, if those running the game won't get it sorted, we thought it was about time someone stood up on the side of supporters. That’s why we’ve issued our biggest-ever Justice Refund, to give something back to those fans who have been waiting, and waiting, for any white smoke on the investigation to emerge from the Premier League."

Paddy PowerTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Paddy Power's Justice Refund covers eight seasons and gives money back to all punters who bet on a team that finished second behind City in the Premier League since 2011. The bookmaker adds that more than 100,000 punters who backed Manchester United to win the league in 2011-12, 2017-18 and 2020-21, Liverpool (2013-14, 2018-19 and 2021-22) and Arsenal (2022-23 and 2023-24) will all have their stakes returned – despite an official verdict into City’s alleged 115 financial charges still yet to be announced.

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WHAT NEXT?

While football fans wait for a verdict on this City case, Paddy Power states that this seven-figure Justice Refund is almost double the largest amount they have ever given back to punters. The previous highest amount came at the 2022 World Cup when Cristiano Ronaldo claimed a goal for Portugal that was officially given to Bruno Fernandes – only for the bookmaker to overrule and settle it as a goal and a shot on target. 

The matches in February will be his last internationals on home soil

Alex Malcolm10-Jan-2024

Australia’s chair of selectors George Bailey expects David Warner will be available to play in three T20Is against West Indies in February despite the series clashing with the ILT20 tournament where he is contracted to captain Dubai Capitals.Warner has retired from Test and ODI cricket for Australia but is committed to playing in the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and US during June.Warner is planning to play in the ILT20 which begins on January 19, just after the home and away portion of the BBL has concluded with his side Sydney Thunder set to miss finals which avoids a schedule clash. The tournament runs until February 17 but the three T20Is against West Indies start on February 9 and finish on February 13.It was thought that Warner would miss those matches in order to play in the entire ILT20 despite still holding a Cricket Australia contract and that he would return for the following series against New Zealand in New Zealand that starts on February 21.Related

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Warner to fulfil BBL commitments with Thunder before heading to ILT20

But Bailey said Warner is set to be selected for the West Indies series and will be expected to play.”He’ll be part of those T20 matches at the back end of the summer and in New Zealand as well,” he said.Bailey confirmed that CA contracted players, which Warner will be until the end of June, are expected to play for Australia when selected and won’t be granted NOCs to play in other leagues at the same time.”I think that’s the same with all our Australian contracted players. If they’re going to be selected in a squad then they’re available,” Bailey said. “If they’re not then it depends on what sort of domestic cricket responsibilities they have. So I think [Warner] had flagged that as potentially one of the reasons why he has made the decision to retire from one-day cricket but we’re still really excited about what he can provide for that T20 team and hoping he can add one more major trophy to his cabinet.”Bailey and CA’s head of national teams Ben Oliver are charged with making decisions on which players are granted NOCs and have been consistent in their policy of treating each individual case differently.Australian T20I-only players who are not centrally contracted, like Matthew Wade and Tim David have been allowed to miss international series in recent times to fulfill franchise contracts that they would potentially lose if they played international cricket. The exceptions were made because they would not receive the same remuneration except for match fees from CA.David has previously skipped an opportunity to play T20Is for Australia in 2022 in order to play in the PSL while Wade was initially rested from Australia’s T20I series in South Africa last year so he could play a full season in the Hundred, although he was flown in at the last minute as cover after Glenn Maxwell was injured.Adam Zampa and Marcus Stoinis were both cleared to go to the ILT20 last year despite being CA-contracted players, but they were only set to miss a small number of domestic List A games for their state sides while they were awayAustralia coach Andrew McDonald said last month that Australia’s selectors had to be more flexible with their players given the schedule was so cramped.”Every application is different in terms of the circumstances with what cricket they’ve got coming up,” McDonald said. “It’s getting more cramped. It’s tough. It’s difficult. I think it comes down to each individual case. Where the player is at within their career. I think every every case should be considered individually and we go from there.”

“I’m very happy [that even] at this age I’m leading the team into the final. I never thought it’ll happen,” India captain said

Shashank Kishore18-Nov-20234:40

Rohit: The biggest challenge is to put emotions aside

Calmness. Atmosphere. Mindset. Positivity. Expectation.These are words India captain Rohit Sharma used with regularity in his 36-minute pre-final press conference in Ahmedabad ahead of the big day against Australia. He didn’t say it, of course, but what he alluded to was this: while it’ll be nice to win, they aren’t weighed down by the prospect of playing a pressure game.He stood by this theory seven weeks ago, ahead of India’s tournament opener – also against Australia – in Chennai. He wasn’t going to deviate from that thought process now, on the eve of one of the biggest games of his career yet.”That’s what I believe in,” Rohit said when asked of his nonchalant quip at the very beginning of the World Cup. “We just want to go out there, keep it nice and easy, and calm. I had said then, ‘Yeah it’ll be nice to win’. In the same tone, I want to say it again: it’ll be nice to win, [and] we’ve worked really hard. But I don’t want to get too excited and feel much pressure about it.”Related

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Rohit also spoke candidly about how his views were organically resonated by every member of the group, but how equally welcoming everyone has been about embracing different emotions in the change room.”It’s not just me, I can sense that from every other player in the changing room,” he said. “There’s laughter going around; there are a few tense faces as well. I’m not going to hide it. But that’s why this sport is so exciting – you see different kind of emotions. When it’s game time, guys are well aware of what needs to be done. I don’t need to specifically tell them things like, ‘It’s time to get the job done’.”The guys are experienced. Yes, not many have played the [World Cup] final, but playing for India is as good as playing in any World Cup game. There’s so much pressure, so much expectation. People keep telling you – do this, do that, score 200, take five wickets. It’s in your head all the time. These days the guys have their headphones on to keep the noise out . But yeah, it’s nice – we’ve enjoyed the journey thoroughly, [with] just one final push now.”Rohit exuded calmness, giving away a vibe of someone totally relaxed and at peace with his surroundings. You couldn’t say from his body language that he was speaking ahead of a World Cup final. This could’ve well been a bilateral fixture or an IPL game. It’s unlikely he would’ve resonated with different views. He was patient enough in explaining his rationale, only grimacing slightly at the sound of mobile phones ringing. He was asked about completing a life’s circle: from watching the 2011 final from the outside to leading India in one, 12 years later.”I don’t want to go back there. It was a very emotional period – a very hard time – and everyone knows about it,” Rohit said. “I’m very happy [that even] at this age I’m leading the team into the final. I never thought it’ll happen, but things do happen if you wish for it, [and] if you dream big.”I’m very happy to be here, I know the importance [of the final], but I just want to keep it nice and relaxed and calm, and not get too emotional thinking about what happened in 2011 and what can happen here. I want to create the same environment I created for myself when we started this World Cup. We’re all in a great space. I just want to maintain that. Not be too up, too down. Just be nice and balanced.”

“You cannot just go out and play wildly to play that brand of cricket. We’ve given roles to certain individuals in this team, and told them how the team will benefit from it”Rohit Sharma on India’s approach in this World Cup

Rohit elicited peals of laughter in the room when he sat back and heard another question about sticking to a certain “brand of cricket”. The obvious reference being his refreshing approach up top and the ripple effect that has had on the rest of the batting line-up.”Brand (Playing as per a brand is important) if you’ve decided it you have to implement that,” he said. “I thought the guys have done that. You can see with the scores that we’ve put up on the board, [or] the way we’ve gone about our chases. Obviously, you cannot just go out and play wildly to play that brand of cricket. We’ve given roles to certain individuals in this team, and told them how the team will benefit from it. I think 99.9% we’ve done [that]; 0.1% I’ve taken out because you can’t be perfect.”But I’m very pleased with the messaging that myself and Rahul [Dravid] have given to the boys, and the boys have responded really well without worrying about their place in the team, without worrying about the scores they get, [and] without worrying about what happens outside, which is the most important part.”The environment we’ve created is a very special one. We want to maintain that [for] as long as possible, and not get fazed by what happens outside, [or] what people talk [about]. If a score doesn’t come from individuals, I don’t want them to change the process that they had before the start of the tournament. All those things are very clear with everyone. The ten games we’ve played, we were very straightforward with that.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O presidente do São Paulo, Julio Casares, foi às redes sociais após a vitória do clube sobre o Ceará por 2 a 0, neste domingo (18), no Castelão, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, e criticou a arbitragem do brasilienseMaguielson Lima Barbosa, que voltou atrás de uma marcação de pênalti para o Tricolor, expulsou dois jogadores do Vozão e teve uma conduta confusa na partida. O mandatário ainda convocou a torcida para lotar o Morumbi diante do Avaí, no próximo domingo (25). Confira:

RelacionadasSão PauloCalleri ignora seca de gols e exalta vitória do São Paulo: ‘O jejum é indiferente’São Paulo18/09/2022São PauloVÍDEO: Confira os melhores momentos da vitória do São Paulo sobre o Ceará pelo BrasileirãoSão Paulo18/09/2022São PauloATUAÇÕES: Calleri volta a marcar, e Bustos ‘desencanta’ em vitória do São PauloSão Paulo18/09/2022

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> Confira classificação, jogos e simule resultados do Brasileirão-22
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Joan Garcia announced his exit from Espanyol in an emotional Instagram video before his transfer to local rivals Barcelona was officially confirmed.

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Garcia completes Barcelona transferJoins Espanyol's bitter rivalsOfficially signed six-year dealFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Goalkeeper Garcia announced his exit from Espanyol before his transfer to local rivals Barcelona was confirmed. The 24-year-old's €24m release clause has been paid and the current La Liga champions announced his arrival on Wednesday, but he first took the time to explain why he is moving to Espanyol's bitter rivals.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Garcia is expected to become Barcelona's new starting goalie, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen likely to leave and Wojciech Szczesny staying as an experienced understudy.

WHAT GARCIA SAID

In a video posted on Instagram, Garcia said: "The time has come to part ways. Today I have to say goodbye to the club that has been my home since I was 15. During all this time, I have tried to grow every day as a footballer and as a person, always with humility, effort, and the pride of defending the RCD Espanyol goal.

"I have given everything I had inside to help the team, to represent this badge with the utmost dedication, and to live up to what it means to wear this shirt. I know this decision won't be easy for everyone to understand. I'm not asking you to do so. But I do want you to know that it has been a decision that has been thought through, thinking not only of my career but also of what’s best for the club, my family, and me."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR GARCIA?

Barcelona have now rubber-stamped the transfer, confirming the Spaniard has signed a six-year deal at Camp Nou.