Cristhian Stuani: From misused at Middlesbrough to outscoring Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi in La Liga
Our man in Spain explains how the striker has been reborn at Girona after his mixed two-year spell with Boro
Ten strikes, ten points won. Everything he touches turns to goals.
Just as he twice rose above the Espanyol defence to slam home two bullet headers in Sunday’s Catalan derby, one striker towers above all other forwards in La Liga’s scoring charts at the moment – including Lionel Messi. Arise, Super Cristhian Stuani.
Yes, Middlesbrough fans, that Cristhian Stuani.
It turns out that the guy who was wasted out on the wing during his stint in English football happens to be one of the best pure number nines around.
Espanyol supporters knew that before he put them to the sword; prior to scoring goals against them, he used to score goals for them.
Well aware of those seasons in Barcelona, and that the Uruguayan’s brief foray in England was not representative of his true quality, Girona knew exactly what they were investing in when they made him the key striker of their historic first adventure into La Liga in 2017.
"It’s true that when you bring in a footballer in his 30s there could be the risk that they’re too comfortable, or lack ambition,” Girona’s sporting director Quique Cárcel told El Pais at the time. “But we knew that wouldn’t happen with Stuani."
Even if he had faith, Cárcel could not have predicted just how emphatically the attacker would burst into form when he returned to Spain. Last season was impressive enough; 21 goals in 33 La Liga games, including a brace that earned a draw against Atlético Madrid, a vital equalizer in an eventual win over Real Madrid, and another two in the return game at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Stuani was one of the key cogs in Girona’s unlikely survival in the first La Liga season in the club’s modest history. A touch of ruthless efficiency that made a real difference. This season, the 32-year-old is playing on a different level entirely.
Ten goals in ten games is a ridiculous rate by any standard, and had he not missed two matchdays through injury he may well have more. A new major victim was added to his Girona tally too, a brace against reigning champions Barcelona in September allowing the blanc-i-vermells to take a famous draw from the Camp Nou.
Along with being important, the strikes have been varied, too. Yes, there are the bullet headers (and what headers they are, Stuani taking over from Aritz Aduriz as La Liga’s finest in the air), but there have also been plenty of others marked by class. The first touch in his initial equaliser against Barça, completely taking Gerard Piqué out of the game, was brilliant. So too was the way he struck his second in the same game, high and powerful to ensure the still recovering Marc-André ter Stegen could get nowhere near it.
Though useful as an out-ball should Girona wish to go long, more often than not they choose not to, and their style focusing on quick combinations and play on the wing has proven that the veteran is more technically competent than we saw in his earlier time in Spain. Stuani’s pass-count is well above the average for strikers in La Liga this season, his assured link-up play making him the perfect forward for the possession-based approach of Johan Cruyff disciple Eusebio Sacristán, who took over in the summer.
"He’s hugely important," the manager gushed when describing his vital goalscorer. "He does a lot of things well, works hard in defence and helps us a lot. He has a lot of variety when it comes to striking the ball, both with his head and both feet. He’s mature, experienced, and a squad leader."
Aside from all that he contributes in goals and points, the spectacle the fan favourite offers up is gold dust for a modest club trying to build their local support after years of being overlooked for the Blaugrana giants down the road. With Stuani in the team, Girona can keep dreaming of further progress and European football in the near future. It may even come this season, the Catalans currently level on points with Real Madrid and in seventh place.
For anyone in need of goals, top scorer in Spain with an excellent all-round game will no doubt sound like an appealing winter purchase, and in anticipation, Girona are already working on a contract extension for their talisman.
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Stuani’s deal is due to expire in 2020, but the Catalans want to extend it by a further year in return for an improved salary. The logic is that if you keep him happy, he’s more likely to keep scoring.
Keep scoring at the rate Stuani is at present, and who knows where Girona will be this time next year.