New York City FC’s Valentin Castellanos will spend the 2021-22 season on loan with newly-promoted La Liga side Girona FC. Both clubs confirmed the deal on Monday.
Castellanos has been linked with a move away from NYCFC for the better part of the past two MLS seasons. While there wasn’t a lack of interest in the reigning MLS Golden Boot winner, no one has come close to the price tag the U.S. club has put on the 23-year-old player. The asking price is believed to be around $15 million.
According to ESPN, Girona also won’t shell out this kind of money for Castellanos, and there is no option to make a move permanent. NYCFC is actually hoping that the Argentinian can get more exposure in La Liga and get the bids to start rolling. It is important to note that both clubs are owned by City Football Group (CFG), which also owns Manchester City.
Despite losing their top goal-getter, NYCFC is not concerned about the lack of goals. According to the club’s sporting director David Lee, veteran Heber and youngster Talles Magno should be able to carry the workload.
“I think we’ve got so much depth and versatility in our forward players that I think it’ll allow us to play a combination of players as a No. 9, or in any other three conditions behind the No. 9,” Lee said.
Since arriving in MLS in 2018, Valentin Castellanos has contributed an impressive 50 goals and 20 assists in just 109 matches. This includes 13 goals in 17 games for far in the 2022 MLS season.
