Ukraine winger Viktor Tsygankov has denied claims by Girona head coach Quique Alvarez that he refused to play in Sunday's opening match against Leganes.
Alvarez stated after the first match of the 2026/27 season that he had called up the Ukrainian international to take the pitch, but claimed Tsygankov refused to play and did not want to change into kit.
Representatives for Tsygankov informed Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne Sport that the manager's comments were false and intended to tarnish the player's professional reputation.
Medical report and squad omission
Tsygankov's team emphasized that the winger was unable to participate due to objective medical reasons that were already fully known to Girona's coaching and medical staff.
According to his representatives, Tsygankov received an urgent call-up on Saturday for Sunday's fixture. The medical staff had already produced a formal medical report confirming that he was unfit to play.
After submitting the medical documentation, Tsygankov chose not to dress in match kit and instead watched the game against Leganes from the stadium stands alongside other non-playing teammates. His representatives questioned whether Alvarez was unaware of the medical report and expressed confusion over his post-match remarks.
Transfer disputes and social media response
The dispute comes after Girona's relegation from the top tier of Spanish football. Tsygankov did not feature in any pre-season matches for the Catalan club while discussions took place regarding a potential transfer to another team.
Tsygankov's side accused club management of misleading the player and breaking promises made over several months. They stated that Tsygankov had previously met with Alvarez to clarify his future following those broken commitments.
Following restrictions placed by Girona on Tsygankov speaking directly to Spanish media, the winger published a post on Instagram stating that he would speak out one day. The post featured an image of a character with a covered mouth and included internal communications showing Girona's requirement for press office approval before any media interaction.
Contract status and club record
His representatives noted that Tsygankov has spent nearly four years at Girona since arriving in January 2023, giving everything for the club and earning the right to decide his future. They added that his intention is solely to protect his professional image against false reports.
Tsygankov remains under contract with Girona until the end of the 2026/27 season, which would allow him to leave as a free agent next summer. Since joining the club, he has made 119 appearances in all competitions and scored 20 goals, helping Girona achieve a historic third-place finish in La Liga and qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Commemorative World Cup coinage
In other developments reported by news agency UNIAN, the Royal Mint of Spain has released a commemorative silver coin to celebrate Spain's 2026 World Cup victory. The reverse side features a full-color image of the FIFA World Cup trophy, the official FIFA logo, the Royal Mint mark, face value details, and two orange stars representing Spain's World Cup titles in 2010 and 2026.
