Miguel Gutierrez: The Spanish Star From The Streets Of Madrid
Miguel Gutierrez well and truly announced himself onto the stage in the Spanish League this season and, in the process, attached himself to the wish lists of some of the top clubs in European football. The Girona defender was a huge factor in the club pushing themselves into the Champions League for the first time in their history, but what has led him to become one of La Liga’s finest defenders?
Gutierrez, The Early Days:
Gutierrez is a product of the Real Madrid academy, but he started his career off at another club within the area of Madrid, Getafe. The 22-year-old left the club in 2011 and played for Madrid up through the age groups until he eventually broke in at Real Madrid Castilla, the second team. The full-back, born in Pinto, scored on his full debut against Las Rozas CF in a 2-1 win, also completing his first 90 minutes.
His full debut for the first team came in the 2021 season, coming off the bench in a La Liga match against Cadiz with 16 minutes to go. He featured in every one of the last 7 games, bar one, starting in three of them and delivering his first assist in Real Madrid colours during a 4-1 win against Granada CF, becoming the youngest player to do so since Brahim Diaz all the way back in March 2019. At just 19 years old, the boy from Madrid was breaking into the first team of arguably the biggest club on the planet, and there was a real buzz around the Madristas that they’d produced yet another gem.
After that, Gutierrez went on to make just four appearances in two seasons for the club before finally leaving to join Girona FC in August 2022 for a fee of €4 million, with a reported buy-back clause inserted into his contract in the event they would ever want him back in the future should he reach his full potential. Fast forward just two years, and Madrid are contemplating bringing the Spaniard back to the club to fill the hole in the squad at left-back, with a decision to be made between him and Alphonso Davies in the coming weeks.
It couldn’t have turned out better, I have landed on my feet in a place where the team has supported me, a coaching staff that understands my characteristics and style of play, and I try to give them that. It is impossible to regret it and it couldn’t have turned out better.”
Gutierrez on leaving Girona
There’s often a stigma amongst footballers about leaving these huge clubs in search of more regular game time, in case they never get back to a club of that level. There’s an example all across Europe of players sitting on the bench at the top European clubs, never truly testing themselves and showing what they can really do on a weekly basis. Miguel Gutierrez decided he was not going to be one of those players very early on in his career, and it’s a decision that has paid off immensely.
Since joining Girona, the left-back has made 71 appearances, nailing down the starting spot in the team without any true signs of relinquishing it. According to a study done by Squawka in December 2023, Gutierrez was one of the most highly rated left-backs under the age of 23 in Europe’s top seven leagues, alongside Quilindschy Hartman from Feyenoord. He recorded the fourth highest assists in the Girona side this season from full-back, while also boasting the second highest expected assists in the team, just behind Manchester City’s new signing Savio.
Among Under 23 players in the top five leagues this season, the defender ranks joint second in the list with 3 for key passes, level with Johan Bakayoko and just behind the brilliant Matias Soule from Juventus.
Michel & The Overlapping/Underlapping Full-Back:
The manager of the Spanish side, Michel, was a huge follower of the player prior to signing him to the club. Gutierrez was a player he had followed for a long time. Michel had a plan in mind to push him onto that next level when he arrived at Estadi Montilivi, and that plan turned out better than he could have ever imagined.
Michel deploys a system that encourages full-backs to get forward. The 22-year-old is the king of underlaps and overlaps, bombing forward from his defensive position to smash the ball into the box for his teammates to get something onto and guide it goal-bound. His most recent assist was a prime example of this, joining in a free-flowing attack, pushing past his winger Christian Portu in the box, and delivering a pristine cross to Viktor Tsigankov to finish inside the six yard area.
That area of the pitch is where he’s at his most dangerous. That left-hand side, out of reach of the opposition right-back, with enough space ahead of him to use that wand of a left foot. The Girona left-back led the league last season for big chances created alongside Iago Aspas with 21, with five of his assists coming from crosses on that side and with that foot. Furthermore, the Spaniard’s tally of 21 chances created was the fourth highest in all of Europe last season, bettered only by Mohamed Salah of Liverpool. His creativity is so impressive from a defensive position that you could almost call him the David Silva of full-backs. That is the type of level the Spain under 21 international has hit at times this campaign.
The player himself is described as someone who wants to entertain the masses. A fans footballer. He is the type of player who gets people excited when he gets the ball at his feet. He loves playing football and has absolute respect for the sport. Gutierrez’s main goals during his time in the beautiful game are to have fun playing the sport he loves, while also making the game just that: beautiful.
The 22-year-old is an intelligent young man, currently studying at University in Spain. He loves spending time with his family and friends and isn’t driven by money or fame, which isn’t the norm in football anymore. Gutierrez is pleased with the small things in life, which makes him the perfect type of personality for a top European club to take a chance with in the coming years.
In regards to his goals for the future, the Girona defender is extremely ambitious. He has goals of playing for one of the biggest teams in Europe in the coming seasons, and playing on a consistent basis in the Champions League. That dream may come true soon, with a number of the top clubs in Europe already taking firm notice of him. Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, and Manchester United are among the clubs interested, with all three fitting the image of the future he wants for himself: winning titles on the biggest stage with the biggest clubs.
There’s no particular preference at the moment for where the player could end up, with a move to either England or Germany not ruled out amid interest from Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund. The 22-year-old, however, has spoken out recently, confirming there is a buy-back clause from Madrid in his contract at Girona and stating that he would be open to a return to the club where he became the player he is today through the youth ranks.
Since he left the club, Real have struggled to have a certain option at left-back at any stage. Eduardo Camavinga has been seen playing in the position, as have Nacho Fernandez and Ferland Mendy. Fran Garcia was expected to be the answer when he broke into the first-team, but nobody has come into the role and placed their flag as of yet, meaning Madrid is looking to the likes of Gutierrez to come back and be that missing piece.
“It’s true that Real Madrid have a re-purchase option for me. It depends a little on Real Madrid. I’ve always been a Madridista.
Having missed out on the Spain national team for the EURO’s, Gutierrez is fully focused on pushing himself into contention for the next tournament at the World Cup, and becoming a permanent fixture for the national team. Marc Cucurella got the nod for this tournament, and he has been a revelation for Spain throughout. It feels, however, like a matter of time before Gutierrez gets his first call-up, and considering his talent, it would not be surprising to see him become the starting left-back in the coming months.
Presently, the defender is still representing his country at the highest level. Gutierrez was called up to the squad for the upcoming Olympics in Paris, where he will be hoping to bring home a gold medal. It could be a splendid summer of sport for those associated with Spain, after the country lifted the trophy at the EURO’s last night, beating England 2-1 in the final.
A player who has lit up La Liga this season, has the ability to do so for years to come, and beyond. Whether he remains at Girona, returns to Real Madrid, or accepts a new challenge with Manchester United or Dortmund, Miguel Gutierrez is a player to keep a very keen eye on.
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