There is absolutely someone feeding the Spanish media information about Vicente Guaita potentially regretting agreeing to join Crystal Palace.
They love a rumour in Spain and, like in England, some claims can appear to have been snatched from thin air, but this has all seemed rather different. Even after it was announced that Guaita, with his Getafe contract ending, had agreed to join Crystal Palace, there were repeated claims in Spain of the possibility of getting out of that.
First it would have been related to Palace facing relegation to the Championship, but when Roy Hodgson steered the club away from danger the claims continued. Atletico Madrid have been the most linked club, but there have been others.
A few days ago Marca reported Guaita had even spoken to Getafe about staying: ‘With everything already agreed months ago and a pre-contract signed in January, Guaita and Getafe have talked about the possibility of rescinding that agreement and renewing. But that would cost about €17m, a figure that the club will not consider’
At the time we ignored it, largely because the Guaita situation is increasingly odd. But it hasn’t gone away.
With several clubs interested in Jasper Cillessen, Barcelona are drawing up a list of potential replacements, and Guaita is one of the names on it.
The Catalan newspaper say of the goalkeeper: ‘He would be another option to take into account if Cillessen left, for his qualities and for his knowledge of La Liga. Belongs to Crystal Palace and Getafe must pay €17m to keep him.’
It’s presented as something perfectly normal, but there doesn’t seem anything straightforward about this situation apart from Crystal Palace knowing they have an agreement signed.
