Gerard Deulofeu has revealed how a chat with Gino Pozzo led him to decide on a move from Watford to Udinese in the summer.
The Spaniard joined the Italian side on an initial loan deal, departing Watford following their relegation to the Championship.
His departure was a bitter blow for the Hornets, with Deulofeu having established himself as a key player and fan favourite after he joined in an £11m deal from Barcelona in 2018.
Like several players under the Pozzo ownership, Deulofeu elected to swap Vicarage Road for Udinese, with the Serie A side also under the Pozzo’s control.
They’ve since made the move a permanent one, ending his loan deal in January and striking a deal with Watford to sign the 26-year-old to a four-year deal instead.
That came as a surprise to many given he’s managed just two goals and assists in 14 games this season and Deulofeu has now explained what happened behind the scenes.
“It was a peculiar situation. Watford had been relegated, and I was seriously injured,” he told Marca.
“I had several offers, but none clear. We spoke with the president and decided that Udinese was a good place to go, come back from injury, play minutes …
“I’m very happy where I am, the organisation of the club. I don’t see anything but the present. I am very happy here.
“It was a decision with my environment and the president. I have moved to Udinese, which shares ownership with Watford, and I am very happy and focused here.
“I’m going to give everything to help my teammates to achieve the objectives.”
