Iniesta vest goes on display at Espanyol
Reuters - Sunday 10 July 2011, 08:45
MADRID - Almost a year to the day since
Spain's World Cup final victory over Netherlands, the vest
Andres Iniesta revealed after scoring the dramatic winning goal
has gone on display at Espanyol's stadium in Barcelona.
After firing into the net in the second period of extra time
on July 11, 2010, Iniesta tore off his shirt to show a white
sleeveless vest emblazoned with the Spanish "Dani Jarque siempre
con nosotros" (Dani Jarque always with us).
Seen by hundreds of millions of television viewers around
the world, it was a tribute to Iniesta's friend and former
Espanyol captain Jarque, who collapsed and died aged 26 on a
pre-season tour of Italy in August 2009.
"With this gesture, Iniesta won the hearts of all blue and
white [Espanyol] supporters," Espanyol said on Sunday in a
statement on their website.
Iniesta presented the shirt to Espanyol last November and it
has been put on display next to a mural remembering Jarque
inside the stadium.
Visitors can see the shirt on matchdays and when taking one
of the official tours of the Cornella-El Prat arena.
"Without doubt it will become one of the most prized and
admired objects in our stadium for all that it represents,"
Espanyol said.
Iniesta was given two standing ovations by the home fans
when his Barcelona team played at Cornella-El Prat in December
in stark contrast to the usual hostile reception reserved for
Espanyol's city rivals.