The lack of international support was one of the reasons the Process failed. Only one world leader defended the October 1st referendum: Nicolás Maduro. The Venezuelan president, ousted by the US, defended the referendum. "Catalonia had the right to express itself democratically," he said on October 1st in his program. Sundays with MaduroInterspersing images of police repression, which he described as "terrible," he had already been photographed with the Catalan independence flag (estelada) at the documentary's presentation in April.Maduro, unwavering loyalty, Directed by Lluís Bartra, a member of the Ítaca collective, a left-wing pro-independence group, the photograph infuriated the PDECat party. "If anyone thinks they're making a difference by having Maduro pose with the Catalan independence flag, they haven't understood anything," warned coordinator Marta Pascal. Eight years later, the figure of Maduro, who repressed the Venezuelan opposition while in power, continues to divide the pro-independence movement. In this sense, Trump's attack on Venezuela has highlighted the division within the pro-independence movement regarding international relations.

Like so many other Barça fans, Ricard will wear the Estelada (flag) to this Saturday's Copa del Rey final in Seville against Real Madrid. "I'm going to keep it well hidden," he told ARA, aware of the precedents in this type of match. Seizing pro-independence flags is not uncommon in football stadiums, and even in the final of this competition that Barça played against Sevilla at Madrid's Metropolitano Stadium in 2018. At the height of the process, private security even took pieces of yellow flags from Barça fans. What will the Barça fans find at La Cartuja?