Adelaide United made a breakthrough in the transfer window with Sergi Guardiola joining the A-League champions on loan from La Liga outfit Granada.
Infamously known for signing with Spanish giants Barcelona’s B side and promptly seeing his contract torn up hours later, Guardiola is a virtual unknown to football fans down under.
At the tender age of 25, he has struggled to stay at one club for any longer than a season, bouncing around the lower leagues and accumulating a lacklustre goal scoring record in the process – the Spaniard has racked up a total of 163 career appearances across his motherland with 38 career goals as return.
By far the 2014-15 season was his best, where he found the net 17 times.
In 2016, Guardiola made 19 appearances for Granada’s reserve team with a record of eight goals, but a promotion to the senior team and competition for spots halted his run of form.
So what can Adelaide fans expect from the latest Spanish expat to join the ranks?
A quick scout through the ever reliable YouTube system shows that he is a totally different striker to that of Bruce Djite, the man he is expected to replace.
Where Djite was the typical target man up top, using his body to hold up the ball and play in his wingers, Guardiola is more direct – suggesting a shift in style may be on the cards for Guillermo Amor.
Compared to Djite, Guardiola enjoys much more direct play where he uses his pace to make intelligent runs in behind the line of defence, while also running at defenders and taking them on when given the time and space.
With a playmaker like Marcelo Carussca sitting behind him, Guardiola will thrive on the Argentine’s keen eye for a pass and surgeon-like through balls.
Comfortable on both feet and even popping up with the occasional header, the Spaniard will add another dimension to a forward line that already boasts the attacking prowess of Sergio Cirio, Henrique, and Ryan Kitto.
Fans will notice similarities in playing styles to his compatriot on the wing in Cirio, which could suggest that Guardiola might see time out on the wing with Henrique potentially sitting up top.
It is anyone’s guess how Guardiola will find life in the A-League, and his previous goal scoring exploits may cast doubt into the minds of the United faithful.
Sections of Coopers Stadium became frustrated by Djite being the focal point of attack for the Champions, deeming his conversion rate sub-par given his shots per game and his lack of runs into the box simply not good enough with the service around him.
The arrival of Guardiola and the prospect of having a much more attacking and fluid striker leading the line may finally satisfy those in the stands.
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