Cristhian Stuani and Girona: the legend continues

GironaThe history 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 break a relationship that will live its tenth chapter after the Uruguayan's renewal until June 2027. The agreement is a positive shock for the enthusiasm of a team that faced the summer with desperation, because until now, at Montilivi, optimism has been conspicuous by its absence: the squad is not being cleared out and this means that new faces are taking their time.

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 is handling. The Uruguayan has been treated with very little sensitivity during this process. It is true that he will soon turn forty and that big data, artificial intelligence and all the resources that entities use to evaluate if a footballer is profitable considering their performance, tend to reject an operation like this. But Stuani is not just anyone: neither football-wise (he saved the club two seasons ago and was about to do so a few months ago), nor sentimentally.

The "set"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, when the club is going through a delicate moment, he has once again responded clearly: he only wants to wear the white-and-red colours to try and get them back to Primera. The understanding between the parties, however, has been stalled for weeks after the contract ended in June and he had to negotiate new conditions. Both sides have ended up giving in and continuity is now 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 Farró 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 so. The Uruguayan will be the seventh on the list and could catch up with 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. For now, it has only made four signings, two of which were already tied up since the beginning of the year and a third which is a promotion from the reserve team. And 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 closes definitively.

It is already glimpsed that it will all be rushed 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 find themselves forced to compete, during the first few matchdays, with the risk of putting their leg at risk, considering that an injury may 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 intends to charge 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 it is not known where they will end up.

Reinforcements are also lacking in many positions, both in terms of quantity and quality. Almost no line is saved from deficiencies; particularly alarming are the goalkeeping, defense, and attacking front. And, in the meantime, rivals are moving. But Girona is not, and this can be costly. Fortunately, it will always have Stuani.