Barcelona identify veteran Spanish forward as Edinson Cavani alternative

Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move for Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan international has lost some prominence in the side at Old Trafford this term following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and has not featured regularly.

Injuries have also hampered the veteran striker, who is believed to angling for an exit from the Premier League. Barca were believed to be in talks to sign the ex-PSG striker, but will now have to contend with competition from Brazilian outfit Corinthians, reports Fichajes.

The South American bigwigs are willing to sign the 34-year-old on a free transfer in the summer and offer him a two-year contract till 2024. In addition to Corinthians, there is also interest from Boca Juniors, which could complicate matters for Barcelona.

As a result, the Catalans are already identifying alternatives for the former Napoli hitman according to the report, with Girona’s Cristhian Stuani now emerging as a Plan B.

The 35-year-old is no stranger to Barca, having been heavily linked with a move to Camp Nou in the past, most notably in January 2020 when the club ended up signing Martin Braithwaite. A vastly experienced striker, Stuani has spent a major part of his career in Spain and has 230 appearances in La Liga and nearly 120 in La Liga 2, with over 150 goals scored across the two competitions.

The captain of Girona, Stuani has been going strong in the second division this season, producing a return of 12 goals and one assist in 18 matches. The Uruguayan forward signed a new contract with the Albirrojos earlier this year, committing his future till 2026.

While Stuani might be an experienced pro, his signing would serve little purpose for Barcelona, as he would, at best, be a short-term solution. Whether they do decide to make a move for him or his compatriot, Cavani, remains to be seen.