I gave her my life: this is how Christian Stoiani became the hero of Girona | Israel today

It was June 2019, in Maracana, when Christian Stuani made the easiest decision of his life.

His Uruguayan team had just beaten Chile 0-1 at the Copa America, but his head was still preoccupied with what had happened a few weeks earlier.

Girona, the team he reached in 2017, has just been relegated to the second division in Spain.

The 19 goals he scored that season, which left him fifth in the scorers' table after Leo Messi, Karim Benzema, Luis Suarez and Iago Espas, were not enough.

A whole world of options was then in front of the great striker, including an offer from Barcelona and other teams in the senior league, but he decided to stay until he managed to close the circle that opened on his own.

"The pain left by my relegation can only be dispelled with promotion," he said at the time, "Girona are offering me the contract of my life. Not only financially, they want me to become the greatest player in the club's history."

"Love at First Sight"

When he arrived in Girona, expectations from Stuani were much lower.

He was a 31-year-old striker who left for Europe after a breakout season in Uruguayan Uruguay in 2008, and has since traveled across the continent between senior and secondary leagues.

Stuani.

Sacrificed himself for Girona, Photo: Getty Images

The peak season was in Albacete from the second division in Spain with 22 goals, and there were also seasons of 13 conquests in Santander and 15 in Espanyol in the first division, but at the same time falls like seasons of 7 and 5 goals in Middlesbrough from the Premier League and Espanyol uniform.

Stuani was acquired ahead of Girona's historic Premier League debut season, and the rest is history.

In the first season he scored 21 goals and helped the team survive impressively, and the following season he added 19.

March 2019 has already become the team’s all-time top scorer with 39, one more than previous record holder Hendro.

With such data, no one believed and certainly did not demand that Stuani stay with the team in the sub-league.

He was then one of the best pioneers in Spain, highly sought after, Uber Qualified.

The Uruguayan could have stayed in the first division, but he chose to move up.

With Girona.

Incredible 👏👏👏👏🔴⚪️ Thanks always Thanks

https://t.co/axciK2nJEH

- Cristhian Stuani (@CristhianStuani) June 12, 2022

Apparently the small team from Catalonia gave Stuani everything he had failed to achieve throughout his career.

As a player who has gone through a lot of stations over the years and was a striker for the Uruguayan national team during the time of Suarez and Edinson Cavani, Stuani has never found true fame.

He defined Girona - the group and the city - as "love at first sight" - and this love was mutual.

Professional manager Kika Kressel told El Pais: "The relegation was traumatic for everyone, but especially for Stuani who became the idol of this club. He was determined to give back to the fans for the love they gave him and really wanted to bring the team back to the first division."

Girona also wanted to, but the economic interest began to weigh.

In the first season she managed to fund his contract, but later went into debt.

Stuani has agreed to extend his contract and extend the payment for many more years, and now he has a contract until 2026.

Build him a statue

alongside the economic interest, was the sporting interest of the league rise on the grass.

Stuani scored 29 goals in the first season after relegation, but Girona were stopped in the playoff final when they lost 1-0 to Elche from a goal in the 96th minute.

The following season he scored just 10 goals, but Girona reached the playoff final again and despite a 1-2 away win over Rayo Vallecano in the first leg, lost 2-0 at home and again missed a promotion.

Stuani (left).

Sweet Circle Closing, Photo: Getty Images

Last Sunday, against Tenerife, it was Girona and Stuani's third chance.

After 0: 0 in the home game, where they dominated unchallenged, there was a feeling that here again it was getting out of hand, but this time it did not happen.

The Uruguayan striker raised Girona to 0: 1 from the penalty spot with his 25th goal of the season, and from there the team went on to a 1: 3 victory that brought it back to the top league for the first time since 2019.

"We must never give up and we have proven it," concluded Stuani, who reached 107 goals in the Girona uniform.

The circle is complete.

The team was promoted to a league, and Stuani became the greatest club player ever.

Un Equip una Afició endavant @GironaFC

Fem História pic.twitter.com/lzxRQqbaqd

- Cristhian Stuani (@CristhianStuani) June 20, 2022

But even before the rise of the league, this title was not enough for the club's fans.

They raised a petition demanding that a statue of Stuani be built, and that it be placed in front of the stadium.

"In my life I never imagined this would happen," the Uruguayan admitted, "but whether they build a statue or not, I am proud and happy of everything I have given to this club."

After the rise of the league, it is quite clear that no one has given this club more than Stuani, "the most significant and significant player in the history of the team" gave to him according to the coach who brought him Pablo Machin.

The 35-year-old Stuani could have been in many other, more glittering places today, but he chose to shine where he needed to.

If it does not deserve a statue, then why?

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