angels and demons in front of Espanyol

2023-06-14 14:00:19

BarcelonaAt the age of 24, Borja Iglesias was in the Second Division and only accumulated 13 minutes in the First Division. With 25 years and a single season in Primera, Raúl de Tomás lived in ostracism in Portugal. At 32, Joselu had just suffered his first relegation to Segona. None of the three hesitated when embracing Espanyol’s proposal: to rescue them in exchange for just over 30 million euros and generous wages. The white-and-blue club offered them the opportunity to revive some careers that were not at their best and they thanked it by doing what they do best, scoring goals. one win-win from manual.

The Panda signed 23 in just over a season. The Madrid native, 45 in two and a half courses. The German-born Galician has just scored 17. The last two have also won the Zarra Trophy with Espanyol, a springboard club that has allowed them to find the confidence needed to succeed and reach the Spanish national team. The last to achieve it, a Joselu who has been summoned by Luis de la Fuente to play in the final phase of the Nations League. Spain will look for a ticket to the final against Italy (8:45 p.m., La1).

On the basis of goals, all three managed to forget two symbols like Sergio García and Gerard Moreno, whose mark transcended the goal-scoring aspect. They, like Raúl Tamudo, managed to establish loving relationships that have lasted over time. They were considered one of us, by the Cornellà-El Prat stands, now renamed Stage Front Stadium. El Panda, RDT and Joselu also came to show an important identification with the colors and values ​​of the club, but their abrupt divorce, asking to leave Espanyol, suddenly broke any ties with the stand. Borja Iglesias chose Betis; RDT, Rayo Vallecano. Joselu has his exit to Real Madrid lined up. The striker has a clause to leave on loan to a Primera that matches his fee, but as ARA has learned, Espanyol’s desire is to seek a definitive exit, that is, a transfer. The club prefers this formula to a transfer. This would not only free up the striker’s high fee, but also the possibility of negotiating a possible exchange of players. Therefore, operations like those of Lucas Vázquez, Marco Asensio or Mario Hermoso could be repeated. Espanyol will need talent for next season and will be looking for opportunities of this type. The white-and-blue club rules out retaining Joselu, because it would mortgage a large part of the salary mass that will be needed to strengthen different positions.

“When the concentration ends [amb la selecció espanyola] we will start talking, we hope that everything goes well and that he can continue to enjoy playing in Primera next season”, he explained this week in an interview with theAs. Words that have hurt the fans of Espanyol, upset with the ways chosen by a striker with a contract at the club until 2025. His departure contrasts strongly with that of the other two strikers, although it has been just as painful. Borja Iglesias kept silent while negotiating his departure from Betis; however, he showed great commitment to the club until the end: he scored three goals in the three Europa League pre-qualifying games he played. RDT also did not make any public statements throughout the summer, but refused to participate in training and matches, even to the point of forcing a transfer once the market closed. A disastrous operation both for Espanyol and for himself, who gave up any option to play in the World Cup.

Three traumatic breaks for the fans that the forwards explained, later, in different ways. “Going to Betis was a financial, sporting and professional leap, although I am very grateful to Espanyol for the bet they made for me, I really enjoyed it”, said the Panda. RDT left assuring that he loved Espanyol, but firing a bullet at Diego Martínez and Domingo Catoira: “I am sorry to see the farewell you give to a player who has made history at this club. They want to hide the bad management of the incompetents of this great club in the offices”. After admitting that he did not find at Espanyol “the project he was hoping for”, Joselu also showed his appreciation for a club that “will soon return to where it should be”. He wrote it in the third person, hinting that it is no longer his struggle. All of them have received an avalanche of insults and criticism on social networks from a fan who, once again, has been left without idols for another summer.