Reported Leeds United target Cristhian Stuani scored his 30th goal of a stunning season on Thursday night, as Girona moved one step closer to a return to La Liga.
While the very presence of Patrick Bamford in Marcelo Bielsa’s front line continues to split the Elland Road faithful into two warring factions, absolutely no one can doubt Stuani’s contribution to Girona’s own promotion push.
At the age of 33, the late-blooming Uruguayan is in the form of his life in Catalonia.
After hitting the net 40 times in two La Liga campaigns, Stuani is on a one-man mission to drag Girona back to the big time. And it is going rather well.
A trademark tap-in, his 30th of a career-best campaign, was enough to see off the big-spending, Saudi-backed Almeria in the play-off semi-final first leg.
While there was no one present in the Estadi Montolivi to witness Stuani’s latest strike, each and every Girona fan would have breathed an almighty sigh of relief at full-time.
There is still work to be done with a second leg due to take place on Sunday but, as sporting director Quique Carcel told TV3 last week, Stuani’s future rests on whether or not Girona are a top-flight team in 2020/21.
“He could leave (if we don’t get promoted),” Carcel says.
Victor Orta spent £2.8 million bringing Stuani to Middlesbrough five years ago and, according to 90Min in July, a reunion could be on the cards at a Leeds side under pressure to find a striker capable of easing the burden on Bamford’s shoulders.
Interestingly, it was Samu Saiz who set up Stuani’s winner on Thursday night. And, as the former Elland Road play-maker will tell you, this is a man you would bet your house on when through on goal.
Can you say the same of Bamford?
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