Simone Zaza has had a torrid nine months, not heped by an entirely goalless stint with West Ham United.
This is not a drill. Repeat, this is absolutely not a drill. We have consulted various replays, each from a different angle, and have a DNA expert on speed dial.
We can definitely confirm that Simone Zaza has scored a goal, bringing a glorious end to nine barren months comprising of three different clubs not to mention the Italian national team and a rather infamous penalty; unless you count a pre-season friendly where the 25-year-old ironically scored against West Ham United in Juventus colours.
Yet after rolling a clever finish into the far corner as current club Valencia sealed a mightily impressive 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday afternoon, Zaza was oddly muted.
Resisting the temptation to launch a Wayne Rooney-esque tirade at the television cameras in the hope that a few tabloid journalists and sharp tongued West Ham supporters were tuning in, Zaza’s celebration was as surprisingly composed as his finish.
It is fair to say the Hammers did not see too much of this efficiency in the first half of the season at the London Stadium. In eight Premier League appearances in claret and blue, Zaza failed to hit the back of the net even once, mustering a grand total of 16 shots.
Consequently, Twitter was rather taken aback when the news broke that this Italian international centre-forward, a former Juventus number seven, had actually scored a goal.
Danny Graham and Zaza have scored this afternoon… is this real life?
— Connor (@_ConnorWHUFC) February 19, 2017
Has Gary Lineker taught you nothing?
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