Girona signs a world champion and one of last season's sensations

GironaGirona has finally got its act together. Finally, after weeks of uncertainty and seeing several players leave the club, but no new faces joining, aside from the return of loan players, Míchel will have his sights set on signings. The first to join the red-and-white project will be Thomas Lemar and Hugo Rincón, both on loan with no option to buy. The Girona side, who are facing a serious salary cap headache, will exploit this avenue thoroughly, as they also hope to sign young talents from Manchester City in the coming days.

Lemar needs no letter of introduction, although his performance is unknown. He has only played 11 games in the last two seasons due to his multiple injuries. Atlético de Madrid paid 70 million to Monaco. There, he excelled, among others, with Bernardo Silva and a teenage Kylian Mbappé. It's a risky bet because Girona will pay 1.5 million euros, corresponding to 50% of his salary. The Frenchman can act as an attacking midfielder or be a substitute, and if he recovers his form, he could be one of the most decisive players for the Red and Whites. He will be the first World Cup champion in the club's history.

Rincón has been one of the sensations of the Second Division. The right-back, who plays for Athletic Club, reached the final of the play-off He was promoted with Mirandés, and was the protagonist of a fairy tale that fell just short of glory. After signing Francés last season, Girona is adding a player with tremendous potential, who is expected to compete with Arnau for a place on the wing. His profile is much more attacking, which works in his favor; but he'll need training and experience. At 22, he'll make his La Liga debut.

Waiting for the big sale

Last season's massive investments are having a rebound effect this summer. The transfer strategy, taking advantage of the profit the club made from participating in the Champions League, was to stock up on owned players. Seven players landed under this formula: Krejci, Asprilla, Abel, Miovski, Van de Beek, Francés, and Misehouy. All with multi-year contracts and salaries appropriate for the club's current situation. But now, without the income from the top continental competition, Girona is struggling to make ends meet.

That's why the club's offices are insisting on finding a sale that would solve part of the problem and allow them to be less restricted when it comes to reinforcing Míchel's squad. Until this happens, the Girona side will continue to look for ways to adapt to the new reality. And loans, of course, play a significant role. The fact that UEFA has finally approved the Manchester City-Girona deal also has the Catalans rubbing their hands together.

Several names are on the table: Vítor Reis, a 19-year-old Brazilian center back who cost around €40 million; Argentine Claudio Echeverri, a 19-year-old attacking player for whom they paid around €20 million and known as "El Diablito" (The Little Devil) for his tricks with the ball; and Sverre Nypan, an 18-year-old Norwegian midfielder for whom they invested €15 million and whom Girona had already wanted to sign for some time.