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Goalkeeper who swapped city rivals in the summer proved pivotal on his return with a stunning series of saves
?I hope people don?t get angry but he?s my friend.? There wasn?t long until the Barcelona derby and Jofre Carreras had briefly abandoned the warm-up to talk to the TV. There on the touchline, talk inevitably turned to his former roommate, housemate and teammate Joan Garc?a, now in goal for their greatest rivals. Carreras?s answer was just about audible over all the noise and then he was off again: he had something else to do before it all started, accepting a shirt marking his 100th game for Espanyol. Behind them as club legend Rafa Mara??n presented it, the team captains lined up for a photo of their own with the first Catalan to referee this fixture in 80 years and, way off to the left out of shot, Garc?a clapped. Like everything else he did, except actually play, he did so discreetly.
Joan and Jofre, both 24, have known each other ?for as long as I can remember?, in Carreras?s words. Over four years they shared a room at Espanyol?s residency on Carretera de Matar? in Sant Adri? del Bes?s and then they shared an apartment. When Garc?a collected his award as Espanyol?s best player in 2023-24, and was handed a supply of sausages, Carreras also received an award ? two different supporters? clubs rewarding two different winners on the same day. When Garc?a started being noticed beyond Barcelona, Carreras declared his friend the world?s best. And when the summer heat got a bit much ? and, boy, did it ? Garc?a took refuge at Carreras?s. Now though they were opponents. And that, Carreras said, was ?a bit strange?.
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?I hope people don?t get angry but he?s my friend.? There wasn?t long until the Barcelona derby and Jofre Carreras had briefly abandoned the warm-up to talk to the TV. There on the touchline, talk inevitably turned to his former roommate, housemate and teammate Joan Garc?a, now in goal for their greatest rivals. Carreras?s answer was just about audible over all the noise and then he was off again: he had something else to do before it all started, accepting a shirt marking his 100th game for Espanyol. Behind them as club legend Rafa Mara??n presented it, the team captains lined up for a photo of their own with the first Catalan to referee this fixture in 80 years and, way off to the left out of shot, Garc?a clapped. Like everything else he did, except actually play, he did so discreetly.
Joan and Jofre, both 24, have known each other ?for as long as I can remember?, in Carreras?s words. Over four years they shared a room at Espanyol?s residency on Carretera de Matar? in Sant Adri? del Bes?s and then they shared an apartment. When Garc?a collected his award as Espanyol?s best player in 2023-24, and was handed a supply of sausages, Carreras also received an award ? two different supporters? clubs rewarding two different winners on the same day. When Garc?a started being noticed beyond Barcelona, Carreras declared his friend the world?s best. And when the summer heat got a bit much ? and, boy, did it ? Garc?a took refuge at Carreras?s. Now though they were opponents. And that, Carreras said, was ?a bit strange?.
Continue reading...
More...