The strange case of Espanyol member 6,031

BarcelonaThe first gift Ramon Terrats (Barcelona, ​​​​2000) received at birth was an Espanyol membership card. He was only a few hours old when his uncle, José Luis, made him a season ticket holder. Twenty-four years later, the Barcelona native, Espanyol member number 6,031, is one of the main arguments for José Bordalás' Getafe, who are closer to the European places, just four points, than to relegation, ten. The Madrid team, almost saved, will visit an RCDE Stadium that wants to prolong the sweet hangover of an Espanyol who, after winning in Vallecas and Balaídos, wants to put their survival on track this Friday (9 p.m., DAZN).

With Terrats on the pitch, Getafe have won five of their eight matches. The Barcelona native has also scored four goals: two braces away to Osasuna and Valladolid, thus establishing himself as a goalscorer and occupying roles that were previously unknown to him: as a midfielder and right winger. Terrats arrived at Getafe this winter looking for the playing time he wasn't getting at Villarreal. A move that some Espanyol fans, who want to see him in blue and white, didn't understand. "No one from Espanyol asked about him, neither in winter nor in summer," sources close to him explain to ARA.

His is a truly paradigmatic case: a parakeet by birth, his family's relationship with Espanyol goes back more than a hundred years. His great-grandfather, Luis Planell, joined Espanyol's athletics team in 1918. Years later, his grandfather also shared his passion for the club to which his father, Juan Terrats, dedicated a good part of his journalistic career. The NewspaperRamon, in fact, used to go with his mother, also a journalist, and his brother, Tomás, to Montjuïc, where he would often wait, asleep in the car, for his father to finish his match report.

From Pandiani to Posse: two former Spanish players who were key to his career

However, he has never played for the blue and white team. His beginnings, in fact, date back to the Europa school, which was less than a hundred meters from his home. He was there from the age of 4 to 16, almost always playing in defense as a left back and center back. When he seemed to be losing prominence due to his short stature, an old acquaintance from Espanyol, Walter Pandiani, came to his rescue. While managing the Europa U19 A team, he promoted him while he was playing in the U19 C team. A good year with the Uruguayan led him to sign for Damm, where he covered for Mario Gila, who had just signed for Espanyol.

Another Espanyol veteran, Martín Posse, took over the reins of the team, which had just been relegated, and gave it a new lease of life, placing him at center. It was precisely in a match against Espanyol that his career took a turn thanks to a great free kick that caught the attention of several agents, who were interested in his situation. Posse even offered him to Espanyol, but the sporting directorate didn't respond, and after two years with the Cervecería team, Terrats left for Sant Andreu. Before that, however, David Fernández accepted his family's request to let him train with Espanyol for a few days at the end of the season. A fleeting reward. And from there, he moved to Girona B, where a series of suspensions opened the doors to the first team.

The Barcelona native quickly made a name for himself, which led to various calls from clubs such as Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, and Villarreal, who tried to lure him to their respective reserve teams. The Whites, in fact, were willing to pay more than €250,000 of his release clause. But Terrats refused and remained in the Second Division with Girona. Under Francisco first and Míchel later, he played in defense and midfield, where the arrival of Oriol Romeu diminished his prominence.

Villarreal, in a new offensive, took him to Castellón. First, under Miguel Álvarez in the reserve team. Then, in the first team, where he saw Setién, Pacheta, and Marcelino pass through, the latter agreeing to loan him out to Getafe in January. There, he's looking for a springboard to consolidate his position in the First Division at Villarreal, where he feels very comfortable. On Friday, he'll return to his favorite stadium, but it will be away. So far, he has two wins and a draw. His feelings, once again, will remain in the locker room. His dream of playing for Espanyol will have to wait. At least until 2026, when his contract expires.