The calendar moves forward, the movements, not so much. Tense calm in the environment, which calls for signings. Patience in Montilivi, where everyone wants to spin thin and not make a false step. The club is fine-tuning its aim, which still has work to do when the market reaches its final stretch. It’s two weeks, practically, the time ahead and Míchel’s demands are clear. “Five or six” new faces, he has repeatedly asked. Since Miguel Gutiérrez arrived on Friday, August 5, no more additions have been closed. Time passes, needs remain. The sports management continues with a few open fronts and despite the pressure, which will increase as the days pass, they work with the same idea. The one of not rushing, the one of setting goals and fighting to try to achieve them, without throwing in the towel too soon. It is true that some of the names that were on the table ended up escaping. But others are the ones who have finally arrived at Girona. At the moment, work is being done to expand the staff. If on Tuesday it was Oriol Romeu, from Southampton, the clear protagonist (there are negotiations in dance), today it was Javi Hernández’s turn. Yes, again. In mid-July, they bet on him but the operation did not bear fruit. However, interest has been rekindled and the club has tried again, to see if this time the outcome is different.
Txema Indias, sporting director of Leganés, has decided to shed some light on the current situation of his footballer. Cast down and not knowing very well what will become of him this season, Javi Hernández hasn’t been training with the team for days. Anxiety has been discussed. “He’s at home because of a problem he has, he can’t train”, says Indias. He recalled that during the summer “several offers” have arrived to incorporate him, but none of them, at the moment, has come to fruition. First the French Toulouse, no luck. Then, Rayo Vallecano. “It was very informal, I was asked about his situation and period. There was no firm offer at any time.” That’s when Girona entered the scene. “They came to get Javi and an agreement was reached with Leganés. A deal closed by 50 percent. It was assumed that there would also be an agreement with Real Madrid, which has the other 50 percent. But it was not like that and it is Madrid that does not accept the conditions. Then the operation fell through and could not be closed.”
After some time, with the footballer disenchanted by it all and praying for the situation to be fixed once and for all, Rayo has returned to the charge, asking for a transfer with purchase option. The same formula used again by Girona, that has been put back. Both proposals are very similar, with conditions that are not too different. Now it is Leganés who must decide, so the ball is in their court. They talk about two “interesting and attractive” options from their closest environment and that the will of the footballer is to change the air and that the situation does not get stuck again as it has happened so far.
Montilivi likes, and really likes, his profile and skills. Only 24 years old and with nearly a hundred matches in the Second Division (between Oviedo and Leganés), he can act as a left back and can also play as a center back. A versatility that would suit Míchel Sánchez’s team wonderfully, which has half-cover on that side. Valery, who started at Mestalla on Sunday, can play there, and Miguel Gutiérrez, even younger and with a long career, has also joined. Girona now hopes that this proposal will be enough to convince not only the player, who sees it with good eyes, but also Leganés, that he will have to decide, and soon, between these conditions or those proposed by Rayo Vallecano.
An effort on goal
A goalkeeper must be signed. Odos, even. Juan Carlos is well alone since Ortolá’s contract was terminated for a change of scenery. A few days have passed and no one else has arrived, so the young Lluc Matas had to complete the call-up for the League match with Valencia. Álvaro Fernández’s name has been around for some time, but more clubs like it. It is in this sense that they have even crossed borders. Girona has been interested, for example, in Matias Dituro, who last season defended Celta’s goal in Primera. He now plays for the Chilean Universidad Católica. For him to come here he will have to scratch his pocket and a proposal would have been presented that would be around a million euros. He is a candidate. Another, also Argentine, is Agustín Rossi. He did not want to renew his contract with Boca, which expires on June 30, and the Xeneize club is listening to offers. Rossi turned 26 this August and various Argentine media say that the Girona has presented an offer of almost two million euros. The club has stretched its tentacles and has other profiles in mind. He has also surveyed the situation of the Catalan Àlex Domínguez. The one from Granollers, a sots21 national international, has a contract with Las Palmas until 2024 and last year he went on loan to Ibiza. Names, names and more names. You will have to spin thin and get it right.
Reinier Jesus, on prop
They are also looking for midfielders and this is where Reinier Jesus enters the scene. The player of Real Madrid, Brazilian and only 20 years old, Girona really likes him, who are pushing to bring him to Montilivi. According to the newspaper “Marca”, other clubs such as Valladolid, Almeria and also the Italian Torino have competed for the footballer but that most likely, Reinier will end up wearing white-and-red. The player himself sees it very favorably, having already spoken to Míchel Sánchez. Now it’s time for the Bernabéu to accept the operation. We are talking about a simple assignment, without a purchase option and with Girona assuming a good part of the salary. The player, forged at Flamengo, signed for Madrid in 2020 and played some minutes with the subsidiary before spending the last two seasons on loan at German Dortmund.
