Juan Miguel Jimenez Lopez, or ‘Juanmi’ as he’s better known, is not the sort of player you’d normally associate with having a trademark finisher move.
But, as he raced through on goal during Real Betis’ 2-0 triumph over Granada last weekend, a late-blooming striker in the form of his life capped the best season of his career with a sublime chip; The sort of impudent, exquisite finish the once-capped Spain international has made something of a personal trademark during spells at Malaga, Real Sociedad and in the green-and-white of Los Beticos.
Not that Southampton fans saw Juanmi’s party piece in action all that often.
In fact, they didn’t see a single goal during the diminutive forward’s oh-so forgettable, blink-and-you’d-miss-it, spell at St Mary’s in 2015/16.
Southampton flop Juanmi shining in La Liga with Real Betis
Southampton paid £5 million for Juanmi seven seasons back, signing the striker on a four-year deal. Just 12 months later, he was packing his bags again, sneaking out the back door after failing to hit the target in 19 games across all competitions.
Southampton even accepted a £3 million loss when Sociedad came calling. The phrase ‘cutting your losses’ came to mind.
“Joining Real Sociedad is a good option for me,” Juanmi said before sealing his return to La Liga. “All players want to play, and here, I am not having too many opportunities.
“I know the clubs are already talking and I would like them to reach an agreement.”
Juanmi would get his wish.
But it’s taken another few years, and another change of scenery, for the Malaga-born frontman to start realising to the potential he showed all those years ago at his hometown club. Never before had Juanmi scored 20 goals in a single season. Until now, that is. What’s more, his brace against Granada took his tally to 16 in 32 La Liga matches – a record of one-in-two.
A final day hat-trick – albeit a highly unlikely one, with Betis travelling to newly-crowned Real Madrid – could see Juanmi overtake Liverpool flop and Celta Vigo legend Iago Aspas and take home the Zarra Trophy, awarded to the top Spanish goalscorer in La Liga every season.
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“It’s a nice thing when you’re there, with a game to go, fighting to get that (award),” Juanmi tells AS. “But I’m not obsessed. If the opportunity arises, I will be happy.”
If anyone deserves to have a smile on their face, the season of his life coming to a close after 20 goals, a first-ever La Liga hat-trick and a Copa del Rey triumph, it’s Juanmi.
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