Ruben Sobrino is 24 years of age, and he signed for Manchester City in August 2015. He’s never played for Manchester City and there’s a decent likelihood he never will.
The forward was immediately loaned to Girona by Manchester City. The Spanish club had wanted to sign Sobrino themselves but couldn’t match Manchester City’s offer to SD Ponferradina of around €250k plus bonuses approaching that figure, bonuses which will likely never be paid.
Sobrino got around 900 minutes at Girona last season in Spain’s second division, he scored 2 goals.
As the season was ending the player said: “I have three more years of contract with them (Manchester City) and I have much hope to play there.
“Now that Guardiola is going there I have even more will to go. I have much desire to work with him.”
Unsurprisingly Guardiola wasn’t hugely interested.
Last summer Manchester City loaned the player out to Deportivo Alaves, who had been promoted to La Liga. So far Sobrino has managed 11 La Liga minutes, getting around a hundred more in the Copa del Rey.
Despite Alaves scoring just 15 league goals all season, the third lowest in La Liga, Sobrino isn’t getting a real look-in.
Onda Cero have reported that Getafe are interested, with Marca adding the second division Spanish club want some competition for their current strikers.
This is a difficult situation, but with Sobrino very unlikely to make it at Manchester City, a decision needs to be made which is best for the player’s long term future.
Going to a second division Spanish side on loan from City and again playing back-up sounds like another roll of the dice without much planning.
