Espanyol director Monchi forced into apology after backing Barcelona star Lamine Yamal for Ballon d’Or glory

The episode underlined the delicate sensibilities surrounding the Barcelona derby, where praising the star asset of a local rival remains strictly taboo. Conceding that he misjudged the mood of the terrace, Monchi conceded: “Obviously, as a Perico, I should have named anyone else.”

Reiterating his loyalty to Espanyol, he added: “I didn’t do it out of any malice. I know what it means to have the Perico feeling; I’ve identified with it from day one and felt it on the street. If I offended anyone, I apologise, because it was really just a case of me wearing the Spanish flag.”