Raphael Varane has gone from outmuscling Romelu Lukaku to being outpaced by a 32-year-old West Ham United reject in a matter of days.
As Real Madrid slipped six points behind city rivals Atletico thanks to a shocking yet not totally unexpected 2-1 home defeat to Alaves, Lucas Perez left France’s World Cup-winning centre-back choking on his dust at the Bernabeu.
On his day, Perez is the sort of striker who turns aimless punts up field into defence-splitting through balls. A Mediterranean Jamie Vardy; wind him and watch him go.
And Varane was powerless to prevent Perez tearing holes in Madrid’s wafer-thin backline again and again, scoring the opener from the penalty spot before forcing Thibaut Courtois into a series of stops following a trademark, turbo-charged burst in behind the hosts’ defence.
Lucas now has five goals and assists in nine La Liga appearances this season, forming a useful partnership with another Premier League misfit.
And, just in case you were wondering Newcastle United fans, it was Joselu who scored the winner at the Bernabeu.
In the space of three years, Lucas Perez went from a £17 million marquee signing at Arsenal to the forgotten man of West Ham, flogged for as little as £2.2 million after two forgettable spells in the English capital.
But after firing Alaves to safety last term – and breaking a 65-year-old club record along the way – a striker re-born has only added to his growing legend with an iconic performance at the home of the 13-time European champions.
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