Although the agreement between Espanyol and Middlesbrough was announced weeks ago, and the player has been training under the command of Aitor Karanka, Boro's coach, until this Friday the transfer of Cristhian Stuani had not been officially confirmed. This is because, until now, he had not obtained the work permit to play in England. Despite the sale closing at three million euros, Espanyol will only receive 300,000 euros, as they only owned half of his rights and owed 1.2 million to Reggina since his purchase in 2012.
"This is not the best way, but I wanted to express my feelings and gratitude for these years at the club. They have been very valuable years for me," Stuani begins in a message addressed to the Espanyol fans, and made public by the club. "I have great affection for Espanyol, for what the team represents, and for all the people who have supported me since day one. I will always cherish that," he says. "I have always defended this shirt with my heart and with pride. I will always be grateful to the great fan base we have. These past three years have been wonderful. Wherever I go, there will be a perico," he concludes.
The Uruguayan accepts that he is leaving "through the main door. I would love to be able to come back someday because I have lived some very beautiful moments. You can never close any doors and returning would be wonderful. I embark on another journey and try to keep growing, but having passed through here has left a mark on me and I'm sure we will meet again someday." And he concludes: "The chant 'Uruguayo, uruguayo' will never be forgotten, neither will the goals I have enjoyed with our people. They are unforgettable moments."