Why didn’t anybody sign Cristhian Stuani?
Seriously, why not?
Football has changed beyond recognition over the years, but every successful team, club or country, has a common denominator: a venerable, inspiring, clinical forward. Maybe even two. Or three. Sometimes four.
But, unless you’re Sir Alex Ferguson’s late-1990s Manchester United, it can be very, very hard to sign one — one that will have the desired effect, anyway. Erase that thought of Kevin-Prince Boateng out of your mind.
And across LaLiga, from Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to the clubs preparing for a relegation dogfight, a number nine was one of the top priorities on the transfer list.
Barcelona signed Antoine Griezmann — fair enough. Real signed Luka Jovic — not bad. But below them, Getafe signed Jack Harper, who is unproven at the highest level, whilst Valencia fought off West Ham to sign Celta’s Maxi Gomez for £36 million. In return, they signed Santi Mina.
Elsewhere, Sevilla signed Munas Dabbur, Espanyol acquired Jonathan Calleri, Alaves brought in both Joselu and Lucas Perez and Real Betis forked out for Borja Iglesias. They’re all very good in their own ways, don’t get me wrong, but they all — and I mean all, even Barcelona — missed a trick.
Somewhere in Catalonia, Cristhian Stuani will have been sat eating a botifarra, still sore from Girona’s relegation to the Segunda Division, waiting for his move to come.
It didn’t. And it baffles me.
Back to the list of signings, who is better than Stuani? Well, none of them scored more league goals than him last season. Moreover, Iago Aspas was the only non-Big Three player to outscore him.
And Stuani was playing for a relegated team.
When I said everybody missed out on him, I included Barcelona. Why? Firstly, they were linked with a move for him in January, but, secondly, he is a risk-free, experienced and cheap guarantee of goals.
Along with Portu, he almost fired Pablo Machin’s Girona to the Europa League in the 2017–18 season. Last year, under Eusebio Sacristan, they were, unfortunately in most onlookers’ eyes, relegated, but Stuani still managed 18 league goals.
Included was a brace at the Camp Nou against Ernesto Valverde’s side, as well as strikes against Real and Atletico. In 2017–18, he scored five goals in four games against the two Madrid giants. He’s a man for the big occasion, then, who is patently capable of getting the better of the world’s best defenders.
“He was rubbish at Middlesbrough,” I hear you say. “He must be knocking on a bit now,” I overhear. Well, he is 32 years old, the same age as Luis Suarez and a full six years younger than Aritz Aduriz, a forward cut from the same cloth still going strong at Athletic Club.
Remember he was far from spectacular in his youth before reigning supreme at Athletic, too. It was the same for Rickie Lambert at Southampton.
Maybe it’s a red and white stripes thing. I hope Diego Simeone is reading this.
The very fact that you didn't hear much of Stuani’s potential availabilty is a testament to his character. He didn’t demand a move away, he didn't refuse to play and he didn't play a blame game after Girona’s demise.
He has already scored a hat-trick against LaLiga regulars Rayo Vallecano and notched against Malaga this season in the Segunda, too. His commitment can never be questioned.
And it would have been, you’d imagine, a relatively simple transfer. Girona sold Portu, who signed a bumper contract in 2018, to Real Sociedad, moved Pedro Porro to Manchester City and let Perre Pons go to Alaves. You get the impression that they were probably even expecting a move for Stuani to materialise themselves, anyway.
This is, of course, presuming Stuani would welcome a move. But it’s hard to imagine a player in his prime, who was courted by Barcelona, rejecting a move back to LaLiga from a relegated club after two excellent seasons personally.
And here’s the humdinger; the kick to the teeth; the jab in the eye: his release clause last season, before Girona’s relegation, was €15 million. It halved the moment Girona’s demotion was confirmed.
Wow.
For now, whilst he continues to score for fun in the Segunda for Girona, he represents a missed opportunity. Perhaps a move will come in January, or he’ll return to haunt the clubs who should’ve signed him if the Blanquivermells earn promotion.
