Pere Milla has tossed a lit flare into the powderkeg of the Catalan derby, after the Espanyol midfielder jokingly declared he would choose to “step on” Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal ahead of Saturday’s showdown.
The inflammatory comment, made on the club’s own satirical show ‘Perico que vola’, is sure to land on the Barcelona dressing room wall and has instantly cranked up the tension ahead of the Montjuic clash.
When posed with the provocative question of whether he’d rather “step on” former Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia or teenage sensation Yamal, Milla didn’t hesitate. “I think Lamine,” he said, sparking huge laughter in the studio. A journalist then quipped it was a ready made headline, to which Milla doubled down, stating: “Pere Milla is going to step on Lamine Yamal.”
The segment, meant in the programme’s typical tongue in cheek style, is unlikely to be seen as a joke by the Blaugrana camp. It follows a similar pattern of pre match wind ups that have often ignited feisty encounters, recalling the buzz created before a recent Clasico by Yamal’s own banter with streamer Ibai Llanos.
In a further jab that risks undermining the club’s own calls for calm, Milla was also shown hammering a shot at a cardboard cut out of goalkeeper Joan Garcia, a player whose return to face his old club has already stirred emotions and prompted official pleas for respectful behaviour from supporters.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick had earlier this week appealed for “respect” and appropriate behaviour from everyone involved. Milla’s televised quips, however lighthearted, directly contradict that spirit and provide the kind of bulletin board material managers dread before a local battle.
With both teams desperate for points, Barca in the title race, Espanyol fighting at the wrong end of the table, the match needed no extra edge. Milla, perhaps unwisely, has just supplied it. All eyes will now be on Lamine Yamal’s response come kick off, and whether the 17 year old magician can do his talking with his feet on the pitch.
