Former Arsenal transfer target Joan Garcia, now at Barcelona, returns to Espanyol this weekend and is set to receive a fierce reception now he plays for his old team's bitter rivals
Joan Garcia
Joan Garcia is set for a tough night(Image: Irina R. Hipolito/Europa Press via Getty Images)
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Espanyol supporters are planning to pelt rats at Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia as he returns to his former club on Saturday after he dared to join Barca from their fierce local rivals back in the summer.
Garcia, 24, prompted the wrath of Espanyol fans by signing for Barcelona in a £21million deal ahead of the 2025-26 season. The goalkeeper was previously subject to a number of bids from Arsenal but ultimately decided to move across the city to join the La Liga giants, signing a six-year deal with the Catalan club after his release clause was triggered.
Garcia came through the ranks at Espanyol, having joined the club's youth set-up as a 15-year-old - and a hostile reception awaits him when he returns to RCDE Stadium. It's even been claimed that the Spaniard could find rats heading in his direction after becoming the first player to cross the city in 31 years.
Several local Espanyol supporter groups are said to have discussed throwing rats at their former star, with The Athletic reporting that a Barcelona stall owner has claimed fans have been asking for advice on how to acquire them.
Safety nets have already been installed behind both goals at Espanyol in a bid to stop fans from throwing objects at him during the derby game. Extra security checks will take place and a longer-than-usual list of prohibited items includes 'motorbike helmets, suitcases, laptops and any object that could be thrown onto the pitch'.
Away fans are banned from the clash with Espanyol stating that any supporters wearing 'shirts, scarves, hats, flags, or any other insignia of the away team will not be allowed entry'.
Espanyol club captain Leandro Cabrera has pleaded for fans not to overstep the mark in their reaction to Garcia's return. The defender highlighted the importance of the fee received for their former player and does not want to see his team punished.
Joan Garcia
Barcelona eventually signed Joan Garcia after interest from Arsenal
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"Fans are entitled to boo or whistle whoever they want, but it has to be done from a perspective in which our own club can’t be harmed by that,” said Cabrera in an interview with TV3.
“With Joan’s departure, Espanyol got an amount of money that has been very useful to secure important signings and improve the squad, so whatever happens from now on it can’t have a bad impact on our club.”
In September 2024, Espanyol were handed a suspended stadium closure after a referee was struck by a lighter during a match against Villarreal.
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