Miguel Gutierrez and his recent decision to stay at Girona despite interest from top clubs like Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Tottenham has highlighted his strong desire to ultimately play for Real Madrid, from where he moved to Girona in the first place. Despite formal offers from the Premier League and the allure of European giants, Gutierrez prioritized his commitment to Girona, where he has been a standout performer this season.
That is as per Relevo. The left-back’s impressive displays, including a notable goal against Barcelona, have caught the attention of several clubs, but Gutierrez remains focused on his current club’s historic campaign and his long-term ambition to represent Real Madrid. His dedication to Girona and his aspirations to wear the iconic white jersey of Los Blancos have influenced his decision to reject lucrative offers from other clubs.Real Madrid’s strategic move to retain 50% of Gutierrez’s rights with a buy-back clause reflects their belief in his potential and their intention to keep tabs on his development. Despite the opportunity for other clubs to trigger his release clause, which temporarily increased to €35m in January, Real Madrid remain vigilant about Gutierrez’s progress. He has a goal and five assists in 27 appearances across all competitions.
The Spanish giants are closely monitoring Gutierrez’s situation, especially with the option to bring him back to the club for €8 million in the summer. This clause provides Real Madrid with flexibility and ensures that they remain a significant part of Gutierrez’s future plans.
Another left-back at the Blues?
For Chelsea, who have shown a keen interest in the 22-year-old left-back, navigating through Real Madrid’s buy-back clause adds an additional layer of complexity to their pursuit. Despite the financial resources at their disposal, Chelsea must consider the potential involvement of Real Madrid and the implications of Gutierrez’s desire to represent his boyhood club. Nevertheless, the Blues have “informed” Real Madrid of their interest in Gutierrez.
Our current options in left-back include injury-prone trio Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella and Levi Colwill. While Gutierrez’s decision may have been a setback for Chelsea in their pursuit of defensive reinforcements, it presents an opportunity for the club to explore other options and identify players who can make an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are not very well-equipped to address their defensive needs and strengthen their squad because of FFP issues, but let’s see how things go for Mauricio Pochettino in his pursuit of Gutierrez.
As Gutierrez continues to impress at Girona and attract interest from top clubs across Europe, including Chelsea, his decision to prioritize his long-term ambitions over immediate opportunities highlights the complex nature of modern football and the emotional ties that players have to their boyhood clubs.
While Chelsea might have possibly missed out on Gutierrez this time, they will undoubtedly continue to pursue top talent in their quest for success both domestically and in Europe. However, we can never say never in football and things could surely change in our pursuit of the left-back who is destined for great success.