Imagine signing with a new team, only for your dream to vanish quicker than a missed penalty. That’s exactly what happened to José Manuel Calderón this week. The 25-year-old left-back joined Gimnàstic, a club in Spain’s third tier, the Primera Federación. His announcement came at 1:06 PM on Tuesday. By 5:02 PM the same day, the Tarragona club had ripped up the deal. The reason? A video popped up online showing the defender chanting things that were highly offensive to Catalan people.
This wasn’t some recent slip-up. The controversial video dated back to the end of the 2023/24 season. It showed Calderón celebrating Córdoba’s promotion to Spain’s Second Division after they beat Barça B. In the clip, the player shouts, “Me cago en los muertos de todos los catalanes.” That phrase doesn’t need much explaining. It’s a deeply insulting slur against Catalan people. As soon as the video hit social media, Nàstic fans reacted fast. They launched a strong campaign against the signing, immediately branding Calderón as “anti-Catalan.”
Nàstic didn’t waste any time explaining their decision. They released a statement stressing their values. “The club represents a city and a fanbase proud of its history, identity, and values,” the statement read. “Any signing must match the respect, unity, and social responsibility that define us.” They expressed regret for any trouble caused to their members, shareholders, and supporters. The club also promised to keep building the best possible squad for the 2025-2026 season.
Oddly enough, Nàstic did not delete their original tweet announcing Calderón’s arrival. It’s still up, a digital ghost of a signing that almost was. You can see it for yourself below.
The video that caused all the fuss is right here: