Sending Pablo Mari and Pablo Maffeo on loan there last season, Manchester City’s close relationship with Girona FC worked a treat.
The Spanish outfit were promoted to the country’s top tier after finishing second in La Liga2, but that doesn’t mean the Citizens will put an end to the relationship.
In fact, if anything, Girona’s climb into one of Europe’s top leagues has made the agreement even better for Manchester City, who will now be able to send older players on loan there thanks to the opponents they will face.
This is what Sport on Friday are reporting, explaining that instead of sending youngsters there, Pep Guardiola could potentially convince players such as Patrick Roberts or Brahim Diaz, talents likely to make it into Manchester City’s first-team down the line, to spend a season in Spain’s top league.
Such an opportunity is one these youngsters are likely to relish, knowing they’ll potentially play at least twice against Real Madrid and Barcelona, a stark contrast to the prospect of battling it out against Sevilla’s B team and AD Alcorcón available to them last year.
Girona’s director of football and the club’s manager have already travelled to Manchester in order to discuss how the relationship will go forward from here on in, hoping for some of the aforementioned players to give them a stronger chance of maintaining their newfound La Liga status next season.
Expect a few stories about Manchester City players being linked with a loan move there in the coming weeks.
