ESPANYOL fans are planning to throw RATS at former goalkeeper Joan Garcia when he returns to his former club on Saturday evening.
Garcia risked the wrath of Espanyol supporters by signing for their bitter rivals Barcelona in a £21million deal last summer.
He signed a six-year deal with the Catalan giants after they triggered his release clause, making him public enemy No 1 among the Espanyol faithful.
Garcia, 24, came through the youth ranks at Espanyol after joining the La Liga club as a 15-year-old.
But after leaving his boyhood club for the riches of Barcelona, Espanyol fans intend to give him a hostile reception when he returns for the first time in the Catalan derby.
And according to the Athletic, home fans intend to “pelt him with rats” to show their disdain after he crossed the divide.
The report claims a local food vendor had told of how fans were asking for advice on how to get hold of rats.
And authorities are so worried about animosity towards Garcia that a net will be installed behind the goal to stop supporters from throwing objects at him.
The general tensions between fans at the game will be dialled up even more given the narrative around Garcia.
That means security measures have been ramped up further and away fans have been banned from the fixture.
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Home fans will have to go through extra long security checks upon entry to the stadium so officials can stop fans from bringing in anything that could be launched onto the pitch.
A longer than usual list of prohibited items is said to include ‘motorbike helmets, suitcases and laptops’.
Espanyol are also on alert for fans bringing in banknotes bearing the face of Joan Garcia.
They have warned that any serious offences by supporters could lead to a ban of five years and also stressed that the club face being punished with heavy fines or stadium closures.
Silvia Rodriguez, the president of the RCD Espanyol supporters’ club said: “The message is to keep a cool head. Many external factors are scrutinising us and eager to attack the club.
“We can’t forget that the stadium is under threat of closure, and we have to be aware of what’s at stake for us as fans.
“The fans are angry and hurt by how his departure happened, and that’s understandable, but we mustn’t fall into that trap. It’s good that he knows the fans are hurt, but the team comes first.”
The fears of tension will bring back memories of Luis Figo‘s return to Barcelona when he joined Real Madrid in 2000.
Barca fans threw a pig’s head onto the pitch in one of the most shocking scenes of anger from fans towards a player.
Espanyol captain Leandro Cabrera was among the leading figures urging the fanbase to refrain from “harming” the club.
He told TV3 this week: “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.
“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.”
Espanyol are enjoying a superb season in La Liga and are currently fifth in the table, with the team on course for European football.
