Davide Formolo close to Movistar switch as negotiations reach critical point

Reports on Monday indicated that Davide Formolo was set for a transfer from UAE Team Emirates to Movistar but GCN can reveal that a contract between the Italian rider and the Spanish team is still to be agreed.

Formolo has a year remaining on his current deal at UAE Team Emirates but the management is willing to let him leave twelve months earlier if he can secure a long-term deal at another team. Talks have taken place between Formolo’s agent Alex Carera and Movistar manager Eusebio Unzué, with a final sit down meeting scheduled for the second rest day at the Tour de France.

Movistar are keen to add all-rounder Formolo to their ranks and have tabled a two-year deal. Formolo and Carera are holding out for a three-year contract.

“It’s not done. We’re in discussion with Movistar but the proposal is until 2025 but our request is until 2026,” Carera told GCN on Tuesday morning.

“We have another meeting between me and Mr Unzue on the next rest day, next Monday. My goal is to find a deal before the end of the Tour, before July 23 but there is this key point with the deal. He has a contract with UAE for 2024 but we’ve agreed with Mauro Gianetti at UAE that we can move Davide’s team if the contract is for more than two years. Now it’s between me and Unzue to find a deal for more years. If not then Davide will wait another year at UAE.”

Carera has several high profile riders under his charge and while most of them have already secured teams for next year, several are still in negotiations with prospective teams.

One rider GCN can confirm will join Movistar next season is Pelayo Sánchez. The 23-year-old Spaniard currently rides for Burgos-BH and already has Grand Tour experience from the 2021 Vuelta a España. Colombian rider Santiago Umba (GW Shimano-Siderme) is close to agreeing a deal with Astana for 2024. He finished 10th at the Giro Next Gen.