Juanmi has more La Liga for Real Sociedad goals than any Southampton player has mustered in the Premier League.
Juanmi didn’t score a single goal for the Saints
Jason Puncheon wasn’t the only ex-Saint with a reason to smile on Monday night – over in Spain, a certain Juanmi was shining.
The 23-year-old netted his ninth league goal of the season – a smart finish after being found with an exquisite through ball – in helping Real Sociedad to a 3-1 win over Sporting Gijon that takes them to sixth in La Liga.
It was Jaunmi’s 13th goal of the season in all competitions as he’s also scored four in the Copa del Rey and a reminder of why Southampton were so keen to purchase him a little more than 18 months ago.
With the Saints so short of goals this season – Charlie Austin and Nathan Redmond are joint top scorers in the league with six apiece – it also begs the question of whether it might have been worth persevering with the Spaniard.
He endured a torrid season in England, playing less than 200 minutes of Premier League football spread over 12 substitute appearances, and was clearly a player Ronald Koeman didn’t rate. It’s hard to argue he was given a fair chance.
However, as his form in Spain demonstrates, he does have something about him.
Juanmi has a solitary Spain cap
Whether or not Claude Puel would’ve liked a player like Juanmi is hard to tell but by the time he left the club last June it was public knowledge that Koeman was off to Everton.
It may be that it was English football that Juanmi wasn’t compatible with rather than his manager, it’s tough to tell. But his thriving at a new side only makes his failed stint at Southampton more frustrating to look back on for the club and fans alike.
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