Espanyol have announced that they will reassign Dani Jarque’s former shirt number to a homegrown player next season.
Jarque’s No 21 had been retired by Espanyol since the defender’s passing in August 2009, but the number will be back on the jersey of a player who reaches their first team via the youth ranks as of the 2016-17 campaign.
A statement on Los Periquitos’ official website explained: “This is the best possible tribute: to make No 21 visible again and have it worn by a homegrown player, as was the unforgettable and dearly-missed Daniel Jarque.
“For all new generations of players, Jarque is their mirror and best example, and so the honour of wearing the No 21 in the first team – and therefore sharing the esteem and passion he had for Espanyol – will always rest with a homegrown player.”
Image courtesy @RCDEspanyol via Twitter
