Former Espanyol president Joan Collet has slammed Joan Garcia’s choice to affix Barcelona, claiming he has “gone with the monster”.
Garcia introduced yesterday his intention to maneuver throughout city after the Spanish champions agreed to pay his launch clause of €25million. He’ll formally signal a six-year contract tomorrow.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper joined Espanyol aged 15 and progressed via to the primary crew, turning into a logo of delight for followers without end dwelling within the shadow of the town’s extra illustrious membership.
That he has opted to develop into the primary participant in 31 years to maneuver to Espanyol’s bitter rivals has left a really bitter style.
✍️ OFICIAL | Joan García abona la seva clàusula de rescissió i posa fi a la seva etapa com a jugador de l’#RCDE.
— RCD Espanyol de Barcelona (@RCDEspanyol) June 18, 2025
It’s a betrayal – Collet
In a message on social media, Garcia attempted to explain his reasoning but admitted “I know this decision will not be easy for everyone to understand”.
Collet definitely didn’t maintain again in his evaluation, describing it as a “betrayal”.
Talking on El Mon a RAC1, he mentioned: “I’m very disillusioned by the strategy, by him and the place he has gone.
“For a participant who’s your idol, who’s idolised by girls and boys and by most, if not all, of the followers to then go to your rival…
“He has deceived his team-mates within the dressing room, the coach… He made us all imagine that there was nonetheless everlasting love.
“We perceive his departure, as a result of we knew that he needed to be bought for budgetary causes, but it surely hurts the place he went. We really feel betrayed.”
Catalan Product.
Barça High quality. pic.twitter.com/NEU33EV9GV— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 18, 2025
Catalan Product, Barca High quality
Barcelona, whose ‘Catalan Product, Barca high quality’ slogan to accompany the transfer has executed little to quell the anger, now have three established goalkeepers on their books – Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Wojciech Szczesny and Garcia. That emphasises the gulf in sources between them and Espanyol, even when Germany worldwide Ter Stegen is prone to transfer on.
Collet, who was Espanyol president between 2012 and 2016, mentioned: “The irritating issue is {that a} boy from our academy, who had been right here for a few years, who has risen, has grown, is aware of our emotions, our rules, our means of being, our every day battle in Catalonia in opposition to a monster that eats all the things, and has gone with the monster.”
Hopefully no pig’s head for Garcia
After dismissing Garcia’s farewell message with a terse “goodbye, shut the door,” Collet did name for calm forward of what ought to show two tense Liga clashes subsequent season.
Somewhat than go for a pig’s head, the notorious object thrown at Luis Figo by livid Barca followers when he returned to Camp Nou with Actual Madrid, Collet believes one thing extra poignant must be used.
“He has gone to the membership that did what they did with Figo, with a pig’s head and banners wishing he was lifeless. I hope that doesn’t occur with our followers,” he mentioned.
“I would like there to be whistles however with out violence or insults.
“We should be imaginative.
“What I might do is make a large banner, a type of canvases hanging behind the targets, with a large picture of Joan Garcia kissing the badge of Espanyol.”
