Cristhian Stuani and Girona: the legend continues

GironaThe story they have built together is so strong that it is now impossible to understand Girona and Cristhian Stuani separately. Neither the relegation to the Second Division nor the economic differences in a negotiation that has dragged on longer than expected have managed to overcome a relationship that will experience its tenth chapter after the Uruguayan's renewal until June 2027. The agreement is a positive shock effect for the enthusiasm of an environment that faces the summer with desperation, because so far at Montilivi optimism shines by its absence: the squad is not being thinned out and this causes new faces to be long awaited.

The go-ahead for Stuani's continuity has been celebrated, but the agony with which his case has been managed is not a good omen, regarding the resolution of the countless open fronts that the sports management handles. The Uruguayan has been treated with very little sensitivity during this process. It is true that he will soon be forty years old and that big data, artificial intelligence and all the resources that entities use to evaluate if a footballer is profitable in terms of performance, tend to reject an operation like this. But Stuani is not just anyone: neither do recent numbers say so (he saved the club two seasons ago and was about to do so a few months ago), nor sentimentally.

The 'seven's' will has always been to stay at Montilivi, even losing money. In the decade he has been at Girona, he has rejected offers to make him grow. And now that he is going through a delicate moment, he has once again responded clearly: he only wanted to wear the white-and-red colors to try to return them to the First Division. The understanding between the parties, however, has been stuck for many weeks after his contract ended in June and he had to negotiate new conditions. Both parties have ended up giving in and continuity is a reality.

Stuani joins the privileged group who will have played ten years at Girona. Until now, only Manel Trias, 17 seasons between 1932 and 1951; Fèlix Ferró and Josep Ferrer, 14 seasons in the thirties and forties; Isidre Sala, 13 between 1963 and 1976; and Joan Múñoz and Chechu Flores, 10 between 1952 and 1962, and 2001 and 2011, respectively, could say this. The Uruguayan will be the seventh on the list and could catch up to and surpass Fèlix Farró in second place for players with the most matches in history. He has been the top scorer for years.

Time is running out

With less than three weeks to go until the start of the championship, Girona continues with the same problems that have characterized it in recent summers. So far, it has only closed four signings, two of which were already tied up since the beginning of the year and a third who has been promoted from the reserve team. Practically, there have been no movements in terms of departures either, despite the different interests received for the bulk of a squad that will hardly remain when the market's curtain finally closes.

It is already foreseeable that it will all be a rush in the final days, with the inconvenience that there will be points at stake, in the blink of an eye, and some of the players who do not want to continue at Montilivi may be forced to compete, during the first few matchdays, with the risk of putting their leg in, considering that an injury might disrupt future plans. Azzedine Ounahi, Viktor Tsygankov, Àlex Moreno, Vladyslav Vanat or Arnau Martínez have a higher profile than that of the Second Division, but still no one is paying what Girona is asking for to let them go. Then there are the enigmatic cases of Abel Ruiz, Van de Beek or Asprilla, signed in the Champions League year and whose fate is unknown.

Reinforcements are also lacking in many positions, both in quantity and quality. Almost no line is free from shortcomings; especially alarming in goal, defense, and at the spearhead of the attack. And meanwhile, the rivals are moving. Girona is not, and this can be costly. Fortunately, it will always have Stuani.