There is never a shortage of office work in Montilivi. Whether the market is open or not, the phone is buzzing folders pile up on top of Quique Cárcel’s table, visible head of Girona’s sports management. January is about to open and the homework is multiplying. In the short and also in the medium term. There may be tweaks over the next few weeks, with the door open for both entry and exit. But it’s also time to look a little further. Next June 30, once the current season has ended, a good number of players will have given up their association with the club. This means two things. On the one hand: from next Sunday, the first of January, all of them (except those on loan) will have total freedom to negotiate with another club unilaterally. On the other hand: it is necessary to put a thread on the needle because if nothing is done, in the summer it will be time to build, with not too many pillars and foundations, the template for next year.
The countdown, in a metaphorical sense, begins soon. After the bells. From then on, six months ahead to clarify the situation of many players. More than half of those who live together in Montilivi’s dressing room. On the one hand there are the ceded. The bread of every year. This is the case of goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga (Fulham) and field footballers Iván Martín (Villa-real), Javi Hernández (Leganés), Reinier Jesus (Real Madrid), Rodrigo Riquelme (Atlético), Valentín Castellanos (New York City), Yan Couto (Manchester City) and Yangel Herrera (Manchester City). All of them signed, last summer, for a season. So, whatever happens, they will be 100 percent owned by their respective clubs again from the first of July. Whether or not they are later dropped by Montilivi is another matter.
Then there are those players who have direct link with Girona. There are also a few whose contracts end on June 30. They are the ones who, once the month of January begins, will be able to outline, on their own, their future. They will be free to negotiate with other teams, if they so wish. Or also a hypothetical renewal with the desire to wear white-and-red for longer, as long as there is an understanding between all the parties involved. Men from the old guard, such as the centrals Bernardo Espinosa and Juanpe Ramírez, or the goalkeeper Juan Carlos Martín, renewed their day until the June 30, 2023. Three-quarters of the same happens with another of the veterans, Borja García, unpublished this season due to an injury that has been dragging him since the last promotion play-off. This includes Samu Saiz, who signed for four seasons in 2019. He has played very little, yes, and it remains to be seen what happens with him in the coming weeks. Valery Fernández also ends his contract soon, but Girona considers him one of their assets and the intention is reach an agreement to renew it. Aleix Garcia’s situation is even more special. The link expires once the shutter comes down in June, but one exists clause for which it would be renewed automatically in case of permanence. Several clubs have inquired about him and it remains to be seen how the whole thing is resolved: if he is let go, if he is renewed earlier and they try to get some profit, or if the two parties want to go hand in hand during more time and the contract is extended for a few more years.
There are 11 players who are linked beyond the next June 30. Santi Bueno, Ramon Terrats, Ibra Kébé and David López finish in 2024. Oriol Romeu, Manu Vallejo, Toni Villa, Toni Fuidias and Arnau Martínez do it in 2025. Christian Stuani is leaving until 2026, while Miguel Gutiérrez agreed in the summer to be with Girona until 2027.
