It is the job of all those who write about FM25 to discuss the generic question, ‘Who will be an interesting save on FM?’ We recently published one of those articles on the Higher Tempo.
However, something occurred to me yesterday while listening to a Spanish football podcast. Wouldn’t Girona truly be an interesting save on FM25?
Massive achievement last season
The Catalan club were the surprise package in La Liga last season, finishing third-place in the Spanish top-flight table, only four points adrift of second-place reigning champions Barcelona.
It was a campaign that truly nobody saw coming. Compared to Spain’s giants and Atletico Madrid, Girona is a minnow of the Spanish game.
They may be owned by the City Football Group, Manchester City owners, but finishing in La Liga’s Champions League spots was an unbelievable feat for Girona.
Not only did they finish third place in La Liga, but they also played an entertaining style of football under highly-rated head coach Michel.
The proof of the team’s attacking style was that only champions Real Madrid scored more La Liga goals than the Blanquivermells during the campaign.
Michel’s football philosophy played a key role in Girona’s recent success. Without his input, the team certainly wouldn’t have performed as well in season 2023/24.
Replicating his style successfully on FM24 has been relatively difficult. That would be the first challenge of managing Girona on FM25.
A mass exodus of key players this summer
While recreating Michel’s style of football may be problematic, there is also the small issue of a mass exodus of key players this summer. In a way, Girona has been a victim of their own success.
The team’s excellent performances have put their players in the shop window. There is no better example of this than star striker Artem Dovbyk.
The Ukrainian international only joined the club last summer from SC Dnipro-1 for a reported fee of around €7.5m. The giant striker took La Liga by storm, scoring 24 goals in the Spanish top flight to finish as the division’s top goalscorer and win the prestigious Pichichi award.
Dovbyk moved on to Italian club Roma this summer for a fee of around €30.50m. Replacing a player with such a prolific goalscoring record is almost impossible.
However, Dovbyk is not the only key player to have left Girona in the summer. Influential central midfielder Aleix Garcia has also left for German champions Bayer Leverkusen. The fee of €18.00m looks to be an absolute bargain for Die Werkself.
Garcia’s absence has left a big hole in the team’s midfield that, once again, is hard to fill.
Then there are loan stars winger Savinho (Savio) and wing-back Yan Couto. Both players were outstanding in their temporary spells with the club. After Dovbyk, it would be fair to say that Savinho was Girona’s second most influential attacking player.
Savinho was only on loan from Troyes and has now joined Premier League champions Manchester City. Couto has returned to City and joined German giants Borussia Dortmund on loan with an option to buy if he plays a certain number of games.
Girona have been shrewd in the transfer market in the past, which played a crucial role in their success last season. The Catalan club have dipped into the market in an attempt to replace Dovbyk and Garcia like for like.
Up front, they brought in striker Abel Ruiz from Sporting Braga. It would be hard to claim that the 24-year-old has ever been prolific in front of goal. However, who knows if he could prove to be the ideal forward to fill the vacant striker spot.
Garcia’s replacement is former Ajax and Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek, who is in a career rut. The Dutchman has spent time on loan at Everton and Eintracht Frankfurt in recent seasons, with neither spell particularly successful.
Girona has become adept at rejuvenating players in recent years, which has also contributed to their success.
The Catalan club also brought in an FM favourite of mine, Alejandro Frances. Some of their other signings have also been intriguing.
Spanish international Bryan Gil has arrived on loan from Tottenham after a difficult few years, while central midfielder Oriel Romeu has also joined on a temporary basis from Barcelona. It could be argued that Romeu is Garcia’s replacement rather than Van de Beek, even if they are very different players.
For me, Girona’s most exciting summer signing could be the highly-rated young Dutch attacking midfielder Gabriel Misehouy, who signed as a free agent from Ajax.
The 19-year-old has shown flashes of his ability for Ajax Jong in the Dutch second tier. He has scored ten goals in 44 appearances in the last two seasons.
He may well be Girona’s wildcard in the new season and potentially even an FM25 wonderkid.
A good challenge
Managing Girona in FM25 could be a major challenge, mainly due to the issues we have previously highlighted.
Although the team finished in one of the Champions League spots last season, it is difficult to see how they would be expected to repeat the feat in season 2024/25. What will the predicted league finishing position be in FM25? On paper, they are nowhere close to challenging Spain’s big two.
However, on paper, they didn’t look able to get near Barcelona or Real Madrid last season, but they did.
I may be being slightly negative about the situation. There is the positive that the team is in the Champions League
That will bring the club extra prestige and, of course, a financial boost, although with the City Group’s financial backing, the latter isn’t likely to be that relevant.
The new players also offer an air of excitement. Can you revive the careers of Gil and Van de Beek or help Misehouy fulfil his potential?
All in all, Girona on FM25 seems like it may be a challenging and entertaining save. Can you replicate Michel’s achievement of season 2023/24, or even better, overthrow Spain’s big two or even conquer Europe? Only time will tell.
Would you be willing to take up the challenge of managing Girona in FM25?
