German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is injured and created a difficult situation for La Liga club Girona.
Rubén Blanco has become the instant solution for Girona in a goalkeeper position that went from absolute calm to maximum uncertainty in a matter of hours. The Catalan club quickly realized that they were playing with fire. Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury completely disrupted a reality that seemed to be under control.
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Up until that moment, Girona had relied on a well-defined rotation. The German, Gazzaniga and Krapyvtsov met all the needs of the goal. Still, the absence of the goalkeeper on loan from Barcelona left the team with only two players available to compete in La Liga.
The problem worsened when it emerged that Sergi Puig could not be promoted from the reserve team due to regulations-related issues related to age. Faced with this obvious risk, the sporting management decided to act quickly and without room for improvisation.
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Rubén Blanco, immediate experience for Girona
MARCA was an early adopter of Rubén Blanco, a goalkeeper with experience from the elite and available on the free player market. The Galician goalkeeper will join Girona without a transfer fee, having terminated his contract with Olympique de Marseille a little while ago.
At the age of 30, he brings a mix of experience, familiarity with the competition and reliability in high-pressure situations. The coaching staff sees his immediate adaptation to the competitive rhythm of LaLiga as key, where he has already shown competence over several seasons.
He does not arrive as a future bet, but as a guarantee to prevent surprises in an extremely sensitive position. The move was finalized after finding a small margin in the budget, which prioritized security over any other variable.
From Olympique de Marseille to a second chance
Rubén Blanco’s time at Olympique de Marseille was marked by inconsistency and physical problems. After a life linked to Celta, he was loaned to the French club in 2022 in search of a competitive leap.
A year later, Marseille exercised his purchase option for 1,5 million euros, trusting in his growth potential. However, injuries put an end to all continuity. His role was clearly secondary for three and a half seasons.
In total, he barely played ten official matches, well below initial expectations. The lack of playing time eventually led to a mutual contract termination, which made him available on the market.
Ter Stegen’s injury forces Girona to react
Girona confirmed through a statement that Ter Stegen underwent successful surgery on his left hamstring. Neither the club nor the player has specified the recovery time, which increases the need for coverage.
With a demanding schedule ahead, losing another goalkeeper to injury or suspension would have been an unacceptable risk. The arrival of Rubén Blanco allows the coaching staff to breathe and plan without extreme haste.
Moreover, it improves internal competition and avoids overloading Gazzaniga with minutes in a crucial period. The goal is clear: stability, reliability and leeway of the team are completely restored.
In Girona, they appreciate that the Galician player is familiar with the pressures of Spanish football and high-pressure situations. He is not expected to be an undisputed starter, but a player ready to respond when needed.
The operation fits into a cautious but ambitious policy designed to maintain collective performance. Thus, the club is firmly in a critical position and avoids risky improvisations in the middle of LaLiga.
With this move, Girona are showing agility and planning, trusting that Rubén Blanco will be the necessary safety net until normality is restored.
