Former Espanyol president Joan Collet has slammed Joan Garcia’s decision to join Barcelona, claiming he has “gone with the monster”.
Garcia announced yesterday his intention to move across town after the Spanish champions agreed to pay his release clause of €25million. He will formally sign a six-year contract tomorrow.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper joined Espanyol aged 15 and progressed through to the first team, becoming a symbol of pride for fans forever living in the shadow of the city’s more illustrious club.
That he has opted to become the first player in 31 years to move to Espanyol’s bitter rivals has left a very sour taste.
✍️ 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 certainly didn’t hold back in his assessment, describing it as a “betrayal”.
Speaking on El Mon a RAC1, he said: “I am very disappointed by the method, by him and where he has gone.
“For a player who is your idol, who is idolised by boys and girls and by most, if not all, of the fans to then go to your rival…
“He has deceived his team-mates in the dressing room, the coach… He made us all believe that there was still eternal love.
“We understand his departure, because we knew that he had to be sold for budgetary reasons, but it hurts where he went. We feel betrayed.”
Catalan Product.Barça Quality. pic.twitter.com/NEU33EV9GV
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 18, 2025
Catalan Product, Barca Quality
Barcelona, whose ‘Catalan Product, Barca quality’ slogan to accompany the move has done 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 resources between them and Espanyol, even if Germany international Ter Stegen is likely to move on.
Collet, who was Espanyol president between 2012 and 2016, said: “The aggravating factor is that a boy from our academy, who had been here for many years, who has risen, has grown, knows our feelings, our principles, our way of being, our daily struggle in Catalonia against a monster that eats everything, and has gone with the monster.”
Hopefully no pig’s head for Garcia
After dismissing Garcia’s farewell message with a terse “goodbye, close the door,” Collet did call for calm ahead of what should prove two tense Liga clashes next season.
Rather than opt for a pig’s head, the infamous object thrown at Luis Figo by furious Barca fans when he returned to Camp Nou with Real Madrid, Collet believes something more poignant should be used.
“He has gone to the club that did what they did with Figo, with a pig’s head and banners wishing he was dead. I hope that does not happen with our fans,” he said.
“I want there to be whistles but without violence or insults.
“We must be imaginative.
“What I would do is make a giant banner, one of those canvases hanging behind the goals, with a giant photo of Joan Garcia kissing the badge of Espanyol.”
