Taty Castellanos to Girona FC?

UPDATE: New York City FC announced on July 25 that Taty Castellanos will join Girona FC on a one-year loan. Read more here.

After months of speculation and weeks of chatter it looks like Taty Castellanos will leave New York City FC and MLS to play in the first division of a major European league.

In recent days, rumors surfaced linking Castellanos and La Liga side Girona FC. Both clubs are a part of City Football Group, the parent company of Manchester City and eleven other teams around the world. Neither NYCFC nor Girona have issued a comment on the deal.

According to transfer oracle Fabrizio Romano, Castellanos will play for NYCFC in Saturday’s game against Inter Miami, then the deal will be announced in the following days.

It’s not the first tweet linking the two posted by Romano, a reputable source who is known for his insider knowledge and breaking news before the rest of the footballing press.

Earlier today, Spanish sports publication Marca posted an article stating that “the signing of the striker for Girona is almost done,” although there are details that still need to be worked out.

Some speculate that Castellanos will actually transfer to Manchester City, which in turn will loan the striker to Girona. It is understood that NYCFC haven’t been able to get the reported $15 million transfer fee they seek for Castellanos, having turned down offers in the $10 to $13 million range from Argentine club River Plate and Brazilian club Palmeiras. Manchester City will reportedly pay the full $15 million to NYCFC, then let Castellanos demonstrate his worth in La Liga before later selling him.

Castellanos had the best year of his career last season, scoring 19 goals for NYCFC in league play and winning the Golden Boot for MLS. He went on to score three times in the MLS Cup Playoffs, and was a major reason why NYCFC won the title in 2021.

His white-hot form has continued into this year. Castellanos currently leads MLS with 13 goals just 20 games into the season, and most recently scored the winning goal against the New Jersey Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby, giving NYCFC their first win at Red Bull Arena since 2017.

Girona were founded in 1930 in the small Catalonian city of the same name, and until recent years perpetually played in the lower divisions. CFG acquired a controlling share of the organization in 2017, the same year they were promoted to La Liga for the first time in club history. Girona was relegated at the end of the 2018-2019 year, but earned promotion last season and will compete again in La iga. The team reached the top division under manger Miguel Ángel Sánchez Muñoz, better known as Míchel.

Transfermarkt values the club’s players at just $22 million, well below the almost $61 million value of NYCFC. Castellanos would be the Spanish club’s most valuable player – just as he is at NYCFC – although Girona is now acquiring players before the start of the season, and the team’s roster is likely to change.

UPDATE: A video posted to Twitter by Gol journalist Alex Luna features with Girona manager Míchel confirming that confirms that “it seems he will come here,” and that “he has a mentally that is very, very, very competitive.”