Christian Stuani

Biography

Cristhian Ricardo Stuani Curbelo (born 12 October 1986) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Girona and the Uruguay national team as a striker. He started out at Danubio, and was bought by Reggina in 2008. He went on to spend the vast majority of his professional career in Spain, in representation of several clubs, most notably with Espanyol. Stuani made his debut for Uruguay in 2012, and appeared for the nation at the 2014 International Football Cup and two Copa América tournaments. He also holds an Italian passport. Born in Tala, Canelones, Stuani started his professional career with Danubio FC. In 2005, he went on loan to C.A. Bella Vista in the Uruguayan Segunda División, performing well enough to be recalled. In January 2008, after scoring 19 goals in the 2007 Apertura with Danubio, Stuani was signed by Reggina Calcio in Italy, penning a four-year contract with the Serie A club. He made his official debut on the 12th, playing 30 minutes in a 1–1 away draw against Empoli FC. When Stuani joined, the club was second from bottom and had the least goals scored in the league, following Rolando Bianchi's departure for Manchester City in the previous summer – he went scoreless in 12 games, but the Reggio Calabria team managed to retain their division status. In 2008–09, he scored his only league goal from a penalty kick in the last round, a 1–1 home draw against A.C. Siena, having only appeared in four more matches during the entire season, which ended in top-flight relegation.