Surely now the departure of Sergio Garcia, the top scorer of Espanyol in the last two leagues, with 12 and 14 goals, in chronological order, may seem like a drama. But the loss of the 'pichichi' is unfortunately something common in an institution like the blanquiazul. To the point that in the last five years, on four occasions, the player who had scored the most goals in the previous season has left the club. And life went on.
Almost as traumatic as Sergio Garcia's farewell—although less emotional—was the departure of Dani Osvaldo in 2011. He had been the 'pichichi' for two consecutive seasons: seven goals in the 2009-10 season despite arriving in the winter transfer window, and 13 in the 2010-11 season. Unlike the forward from Bon Pastor, the Italo-Argentinian left not before the start of the preseason but with it already underway, which left even less time to find a replacement.
In fact, the following season (2011-12), the top scorer of the team was a forward who arrived in January, halfway through the season: Kalu Uche, who with six goals surpassed the five goals of Sergio Garcia himself, Joan Verdu, Phillipe Coutinho—who also landed in the winter transfer window— and Alvaro Vazquez. The Nigerian also left that summer, while staying in Peralada, for the Turkish team Kasimpasa. And it was Verdú who took on the goal-scoring duties in the 2012-13 season, as well as the creative ones, with nine goals and the perico 'pichichi'. Similar circumstances to those now with Sergio occurred when he decided not to renew: not only was a goal-scoring man leaving, but also a great assistant and a creative player who moved the team. But Espanyol knew how to survive and it was precisely his partner from Bon Pastor who suddenly emerged to have his two best seasons in the Primera.
Jhon Cordoba first, and Cristhian Stuani and Felipe Caicedo later, could not snatch the goal-scoring title from the captain. Now, between the Uruguayan and the Ecuadorian—waiting for more forwards—they will have to compete for the 'pichichi' so that Sergio Garcia's absence is felt as little as possible, as has been happening in the last five years and beyond.