Girona secure Rubén Blanco signing to solve goalkeeper crisis
The Catalan club have moved quickly to bring in the former Celta and Marseille keeper on a free transfer after Ter Stegen's injury left them short between the sticks.
Girona have moved swiftly to address their goalkeeping emergency by signing former Celta Vigo and Marseille stopper Rubén Blanco on a free transfer, ensuring they’re no longer playing with fire in a crucial position.
Goalkeeper crisis forces action
The Catalan surprise package found themselves in a proper pickle after Marc-André ter Stegen’s devastating injury left them with just two keepers in the squad. What initially seemed a well-stocked position following:
- Livakovic’s departure
- Ter Stegen’s arrival from Barcelona
- Backup options in Gazzaniga and Krapyvtsov
Quickly turned into a crisis when the German international suffered his hamstring tear, requiring surgery that will keep him sidelined for a significant stretch.
To make matters worse, Girona couldn’t even promote B-team keeper Sergi Puig because he doesn’t qualify under the under-25 rule. Talk about being caught short between the sticks!
Blanco’s background
The 30-year-old Galician keeper became available after terminating his contract with Marseille a few weeks back. Sporting director Quique Cárcel has somehow found a few bob in the budget to bring in the experienced keeper as an insurance policy.
Blanco spent most of his career at Celta Vigo before moving to Marseille initially on loan in 2022, with the French club later making the deal permanent for around £1.3 million. However, his time in France was a bit of a non-starter - injuries limited him to just 10 appearances across three and a half seasons.
Ter Stegen update
Meanwhile, Girona have confirmed through official channels that Ter Stegen has successfully undergone surgery on his left hamstring injury. Neither the club nor the player have specified exactly how long he’ll be out, but it’s expected to be a lengthy absence.
With Blanco now on board, Girona can breathe a bit easier as they continue their remarkable campaign, still fighting on multiple fronts despite being relative newcomers to the top table of Spanish football.