Girona manager Michel Sanchez has done an excellent job of turning his side into one of the most formidable in La Liga, but as the stakes are raised, he is having to contend with fresh problems, including heavy transfer speculation surrounding his best players. Artem Dovbyk has been linked to Chelsea of late, but Barcelona’s interest in Aleix Garcia is perhaps the most distracting.
Barcelona reportedly feel they can sign Garcia for much less than the originally quoted €20m figure, which in theory would rule out a January move. Garcia himself has been much more coy on the matter, having admitted a desire to play for Barcelona.
Speaking to Diario AS ahead of their clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, Michel did not seem to think the Blaugrana would be successful in their efforts.
“I get the feeling that Aleix is not going to leave, but it would hurt me regardless of which team he goes to because we would lose him. We are not at the level of Barca. We want to continue growing as a club and to do so we need players of Aleix’s level. It would hurt me because we lose potential, but I have the feeling that he will continue.”
Girona have also terminated the contract of veteran central defender Bernardo Espinosa, so that he can join Atletico Nacional in his native Colombia. With David Lopez injured, Michel still felt he had sufficient resources in the middle of his defence.
“We have Juanpe, Blind, Eric Garcia, Arnau… I don’t have the feeling that we are short of pieces. It is true that the loss of Bernardo is important in every aspect, but within the team we can make up for this loss,” he noted, explaining the club had not stood in Bernardo’s way.
“It will be a great game,” he said of Atletico Madrid, “and I expect the best atmosphere from our fans, as always. [I am] Very grateful for people’s response. I expect a very nice and very difficult meeting. Atletico are a great team, it is a team made to fight for La Liga. It will be difficult, but I am also very confident in our best version for tomorrow.”
Michel also picked up on the fact Girona could leave Los Colchoneros ten points back from themselves with a win, and posited that regardless of the result it would be a great first half of the season. But he still doesn’t make them title contenders.
“No, I think not because we have to make almost 90 points, which is a lot. The first round is just finishing and we’d have to have a spectacular second. We have to go game by game. Our goal is Europe.”
Garcia will likely be crucial for that European bid, and their captain certainly hasn’t hidden his desire to join Barcelona. Yet with Girona not in need of sales, and Barcelona not flush for cash, it looks unlikely that a deal will happen without some complicity from Girona at any rate.
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