Source: REUTERS/Albert Gea
[Saba Sports News] Recently, goalkeeper Joan Garcia of La Liga side Espanyol is set to join another La Liga team, Barcelona, a move that has drawn fierce criticism from many Espanyol fans, who even called him a traitor. Due to the long-standing rivalry between Barcelona and Espanyol, Garcia’s decision to transfer has been viewed by some Espanyol fans as “betrayal.” Despite his public declarations of love for Espanyol, Garcia’s move has sparked significant backlash on social media. Terms like “traitor” and “mercenary” flooded the comments section. Subsequently, matters escalated further, with some fans visiting Garcia’s home in Saleret to deface the walls with derogatory slogans such as “rat,” “traitor,” “mercenary,” and “get out.” It is believed that Espanyol fans’ harsh reactions stem from Garcia’s switch to their local arch-rival, Barcelona. Being deeply competitive rivals, fans view their clubs as emotional anchors, thus Garcia’s move from Espanyol to Barcelona is seen as a betrayal of both the team and its supporters. Particularly given his previous public declarations of love for Espanyol, this action is perceived as deceitful by fans.