Barcelona have identified Girona captain Cristhian Stuani as an alternative option in case they miss out on signing Manchester United star Edinson Cavani.
According to a report from Fichajes, Barcelona have cast their sights on 35-year-old veteran striker Cristhian Stuani as a potential alternative for Manchester United star Edinson Cavani ahead of the January transfer window.
It is no secret that Barcelona are on the hunt for a new goalscorer heading into the winter window after having lost Sergio Aguero indefinitely due to a heart condition. With Luuk de Jong expected to leave next month and Memphis Depay struggling in the No. 9 role, Xavi Hernandez & co. are looking for a proper striker to ease the team’s goalscoring woes.
Over the past month, a host of players have been linked, with Manchester United’s veteran striker Edinson Cavani also on the club’s wishlist. It had even been claimed that the Catalans had even begun talks with the Premier League giants over a potential Janaury move for the Uruguayan international.
However, Cavani is also attracting interest from Brazilian giants Corinthians, as per the report mentioned above, while Boca Juniors are also keen on signing the 34-year-old. With a chance to return to South America, the striker could rebuff Barcelona’s interest, which is why the Blaugrana are preparing for such a scenario.
And, the report states that Cavani’s compatriot, Cristhian Stuani, has emerged as a prospective target for Barcelona. The 35-year-old striker plays for Girona in the Spanish second division and has been in impressive form this term, bagging 12 goals in 18 games.
Stuani has spent a major portion of his career in Spain, having first arrived in 2008 when he joined Albacete on a two-year loan deal. Following that stint, the Uruguayan also had temporary terms with Levante and Racing Santander before moving to Espanyol permanently in 2012.
Stuani also spent two years with English club Middlesbrough before moving to Girona in 2017. Currently the captain of the La Liga 2 outfit, the 35-year-old has been previously linked with a move to Barcelona. And, he has now emerged as a transfer target once again should they miss out on the capture of Cavani.
But given that his contract with Girona runs till the summer of 2026, it will be interesting to see if the club are willing to do business in January should Barcelona approach.
