Alireza Jahanbakhsh arrived at Brighton & Hove Albion from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2018.
Prior to joining the Seagulls, Watford were given an opportunity to sign the Iran international.
However, the Hornets turned down the chance of bringing the winger to Vicarage Road because Watford owner Gino Pozzo had a change of heart.
This is according to Italian agent Vincenzo Morabito, who explained these details during Radio Marte’s Si Gonfia La Rete and CalcioNapoli24 have relayed the comments made by the representative.
Morabito talked about Jahanbakhsh when discussing the possibility of his compatriot, Sardar Azmoun, leaving Zenit St. Petersburg in the next transfer window.
“There is always prejudice when you propose players who come from countries not present in the standard geographic map of football,” Morabito said.
“With Jahanbakhsh, we had succeeded by proposing him to Gino Pozzo for Watford. He had almost convinced himself, but while technically appreciating him, he finally gave up claiming players from these countries then on the market are not valued as they deserve. I believe players should be judged regardless of passport.”
Jahanbakhsh failed to score or register an assist in his debut season in the Premier League. Things didn’t improve in his second season in England.
The 26-year-old had to wait until December to feature for Graham Potter’s side and the attacker has two goals in eight league appearances this season.
With Jahanbakhsh struggling to have any impact at Brighton, Pozzo may think he was correct not to sanction his signing for Watford in 2018.
