Only a couple of weeks have passed since Espanyol's return to training and a new mess is already known in the parakeet dressing room. The last disagreement has happened with Martin Braithwaite, a key striker to recover the category, who is not willing to play in the Second Division and has therefore declared himself in absentia. The Dane refused to play last Sunday's friendly against Cádiz and then left the Marbella camp without notifying anyone to return to Barcelona, as RAC1 announced.
As confirmed by Fran Garagarza, the club's sports director, the player wants to leave the entity as soon as possible and does not want to "lose" a year playing in the Second Division. One of the reasons would be that he wants to participate in the 2024 Euro Cup with Denmark and not being in the First Division would reduce his visibility. In addition, he would not be willing to see his record, one of the most important in the club along with Sergi Darder, reduced to 50%, as established by his contract in the event of relegation.
The player, who has a contract with Espanyol until 2027, already informed the club of his intention to leave in the talks that Garagarza held with all the players last week, however, for the moment there has been no offer for him, which makes it difficult for him to leave.
As confirmed by the sports director Perico to the media sent to Marbella, the club is already studying the possible sanctions to apply for the conduct of the footballer, who was seen yesterday having dinner at a well-known restaurant in Casteldefells, the town where he lives with his family. “This is an unexpected surprise, and at the same time unpleasant. We didn't like anything. He is a professional player who is with us who is suddenly gone. I had been talking to him in private meetings, and he was evidently already telling me that he did not want to be there, that he wanted to find a way out. But the situation is very clear: the player has a contract with Espanyol and the club is counting on him because he is very important to us, ”explained Garagarza.
The coach assured that the club's hand will not tremble. “Let's hope he returns, otherwise we will have to talk about applying the disciplinary regime that is already in place because he has been without us for days. The 17,000 subscribers and more than 20,000 members are being disrespected, and we are not going to allow that, neither to Martin nor to another. It is a serious lack of respect."
Garagarza has explained that he is in contact with his representative, but has not yet been able to speak with him. “I have called him after the Cádiz game but he has not answered me. We have had two conversations with his agent, who is showing his face to explain the situation to us, but he himself tells us that he has decided to leave the concentration and that there is nothing more. But I insist, he has not responded to my calls ”.
The Danish international made 33 appearances in all competitions for Espanyol last season. Braithwaite started 30 of these games and became one of the block's top scorers with ten goals.
