Barcelona Star Midfielder Defends Catalans in Explosive Ongoing Rivalry

Barcelona's midfield player Marc Casadó has not forgotten the moment when José Manuel Calderón celebrated Córdoba's 2023–24 promotion by making derogatory remarks about "all Catalans".

Córdoba defeated a Barcelona B squad featuring Casadó during the 2024 Primera Federación playoffs, earning promotion to Spain's second division at Barcelona's cost. However, Calderón went too far afterward, making an offensive anti-Catalan comment during an Instagram live broadcast recorded on the team's bus.

Moving ahead to summer 2025, Calderón was searching for a new club following the end of his Córdoba contract, after the team finished above former 1999–00 La Liga winners Deportivo La Coruña and 2012–13 Champions League semifinalists Málaga to secure their Segunda División status.

The defender successfully negotiated a deal with Gimnàstic de Tarragona, one division lower, which was officially announced. However, Nàstic, based in Catalonia, confirmed this week they had reversed their decision, posting on Instagram that Calderón would not be joining the club after all.

Casadó, a devoted Catalan native from the small municipality of Sant Pere de Vilamajor north of Barcelona, was clearly satisfied seeing Calderón face consequences for his previous remarks, despite the player having issued two public statements of regret throughout the year following his inappropriate comments.

Casadó responded to the announcement with a clapping emoji, expressing his satisfaction with the development. Many others followed suit.

Calderón remains clubless as the upcoming season approaches.

After first expressing regret in June 2024, Calderón was subsequently featured on Spanish television program El Chiringuito to discuss the incident. While he apologized once more, the player questionably attempted to minimize the impact of his statements.

"Given the consequences this has had, I wanted to express my regret to everyone who felt hurt," he stated. "I have Catalan relatives, Catalan friends and they didn't interpret it the same way. Here in Andalusia, for me it's a common phrase, we don't view it with such serious implications but it upset people and I wanted to apologize publicly."