Girona captain reveals Barcelona try to sign him in 2019 – ‘I did not sleep that night’ | OneFootball

Girona captain Cristhian Stuani has opened up about a dramatic chapter in his career when he was almost on the verge of joining Barcelona in 2019.

The Uruguayan striker, now 38, confirmed in a recent interview that there was genuine interest from the Catalan giants in the summer of 2019.

“There was one night I didn’t sleep. Things were really heated,” Stuani said, recalling how close the move felt as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

But despite the buzz, he made it clear that a formal offer never actually reached Girona. “I didn’t have to choose because a concrete offer never came to the club,” he added.

From missed move to Girona legend

Soon after the 2018–19 season, Stuani was one of the hottest strikers in La Liga. With 20 goals in 34 matches, he was naturally on the radar of some of Spain’s top clubs.

Barcelona attempted to sign Cristhian Stuani in 2019. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Barcelona were actively seeking a forward and eventually turned their focus to Antoine Griezmann, who joined later that year.

While Barcelona moved on, Stuani stayed put. Even as Girona dropped to the second division for three seasons, he remained loyal, something rare in modern football.

That decision paid off, both for him and the club. He has now become a symbol of Girona’s rise, making 289 appearances and scoring an impressive 141 goals across eight seasons.

Although the dream move to Barça never materialised, Stuani’s legacy at Girona is secure. He might not have worn the Blaugrana shirt, but he earned something arguably more meaningful, undying respect from the Girona faithful.

His story is a reminder that not all football legends wear the biggest badges.