It has been quite a year for Cristhian Stuani after leaving Middlesbrough.
Cristhian Stuani probably did not need too much persuading to leave Middlesbrough last summer after two unsuccessful years at the club.
Even so, he will be glad he did.
And that’s no reflection on Boro themselves, purely that he has had a staggeringly good past 12 months.
Stuani scored 16 goals in two seasons combined for Middlesbrough, with only four coming in the Premier League.
He quit Boro for unfancied La Liga side Girona, and burst into life, scoring 19 goals in 30 La Liga games.
Now his form has caught the eye of Atletico Madrid.
Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo report Stuani is on Atletico’s shortlist as they look for a replacement for Fernando Torres, who has left after his contract expired and is heading to Japan.
Stuani, 31, would be a back-up for Diego Costa at Atletico if he signed.
The former Middlesbrough striker’s year could get better.
He is at the World Cup with quarter-finalists Uruguay as a back-up, but could yet have a part to play.
The way his year has panned out, you cannot rule out Stuani having a say before Russia 2018 is over.
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