Joan Casals, the 'Grandfather of Barça', dies at 90

THE WORLD

Updated Thursday, February 15, 2024-09:18

This Wednesday, one of the symbols of Barcelona fans,

Joan Casals

, popularly known as the

'Grandfather of Barça',

died . Born in Guardiola de Berguedà in 1934, Casals has died at the age of 90, according to Esport3.

The nickname Joan Casals was born in a

Joan Gamper Trophy

held forty years ago. That day he went to the

Camp Nou

wearing a classic Barcelona t-shirt and a barretina, a traditional Catalan hat. His clothing, together with his bushy white beard, identified him for life as the 'Grandfather of Barça'.

But everything came from before since in the 1920s, a fictional character created by

Valentí Castanys

and who still remained in the memory of the culés, was the precursor of the myth of Casals.

Therefore, when fans saw Joan's resemblance to Castanys' character, they decided to name him his flesh-and-blood avatar. Since then he became an

emblem of the

Barça supporters clubs and was a regular at various club events and in the stands of the stadium.