Spanish winger Gerard Deulofeu says he opted to join Udinese for regular playing time amid reports Crystal Palace wanted to sign him on loan, AS report.
The former Watford winger was highly sought-after following the Hornets’ relegation.
Deulofeu was one of Watford’s better players, having also had decent spells at Everton and Serie A giants AC Milan before often lighting up Vicarage Road.
Watford’s relegation meant an exit from the Championship club was inevitable.
And according to the Standard, a return to the Premier League was on the cards with Crystal Palace making moves over a loan deal for the £11.5 million ace.
A move to Selhurst Park, however, never materialised and Deulofeu has now told AS he decided to move to Watford’s sister club Udinese for the regular playing time.
“I want to return to my best level and Italy is the perfect place, I have already done very well here at Milan. Udinese is a team with a lot of history, for 26 consecutive seasons in Serie A. I really like the sports center, the infrastructures, the new stadium, the ownership is the same as Watford and we have decided together to come here to play continuously after the injury,” Deulofeu explained.
Deulofeu’s last game for Watford came in that 3-0 win over Liverpool.
A subsequent injury saw him miss project re-start, and Watford certainly felt his absence. Deulofeu had posted four goals and five assists in 25 league starts last term.
His 2018-19 Premier League record of ten goals and five assists demonstrates his ability.
Palace, who were one of the lowest scorers last season, desperately needed to add more quality in the final third to help take the pressure off star man Wilfried Zaha.
Despite the Eagles adding Eberechi Eze, manager Roy Hodgson still appears short on options in the final third and Palace will hope they don’t regret missing out on Deulofeu.
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