after the signing of, among others, russian dmitry radchenko, salinas was deemed surplus to requirements, joining sporting de gijón where he scored 18 goals in the 1995–96 campaign, crucial in helping the asturians avoid relegation. he was held in high regards in the city during his one-and-a-half-year spell, with the fans often singing: ""bota de oro, salinas bota de oro!"" ("golden boot, salinas, golden boot!").