Achraf Lazaar wanted to get his career back on track at Benevento after leaving Newcastle United on loan.
Newcastle United fans might have hoped that Achraf Lazaar would be the exciting, attack minded left-back they’ve been clamouring for when he arrived from Palermo for £3 million last summer, per The Chronicle.
However, the fact that the Moroccan made just four substitute appearances in the Championship, totalling 37 minutes, tells you a lot about the impression he made on Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez. Therefore, a return to Serie A with newly promoted Benevento this summer offered Lazaar the chance to get his career back on track.
“I know my quality and what I can do. I want to be the perfect player and be a champion,” Lazaar said in quotes reported by The Chronicle earlier this month.
A day later, Benevento travelled to Napoli and were thumped 6-0 with the electric Dries Mertens adding a hat-trick to his growing collection. And then, in midweek, Benevento suffered further humiliation by going down 4-0 at home to Roma, with Lazaar being hooked midway through the second half.
Lazaar was subbed again on Sunday, this time in the 53rd minute, as Benevento lost again with fellow strugglers Crotone easing to a 2-0 win.
Lazaar may be certain of his own quality but he could do with showing it in a few games for his new club. Because a record of three defeats, and 12 goals conceded, in just eight days is not the way to silence the doubters.
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