Player’s Southampton move hyped up – Excitement for him, previous struggles waved away

Ben Brereton Díaz should perform better at Southampton than he managed at Villarreal, with his struggles there not entirely his fault.

That’s according to Chilean Jean Beausejour, who has been busy talking up the player’s move to Southampton today and insisting his time at Villarreal be quickly forgotten about, in comments relayed by Red Gol.

Díaz joined Southampton in an €8.3m deal at the end of last month, bringing an end to a disappointing solitary year at Villarreal in the process.

He had joined the Spanish side on a free transfer from Blackburn in July last year after four successful years with the Championship side but was unable to establish himself or manage the same kind of numbers he had achieved in England.

Instead, he was quickly loaned out in the January transfer window, joining Sheffield United until the end of the season and establishing himself as a key player for them despite their eventual relegation.

His performances for the Blades seemingly convinced Southampton to make the move for him as they build this summer following promotion from the Championship.

And Beausejour is more than happy with the transfer for his compatriot, believing it could be an idea one for him.

“I think his situation is going to be totally different from the one he had at Villarreal,” Red Gol report him saying on ESPN F360.

“I don’t know if he will be a starter from the beginning, I hope so, but that he will be more considered, and if he is not a starter, he will be the first change, or the second or third, I think so.

“There is a reason they trust in bringing him, repatriating him from Spain. His stay at Southampton should coexist with the spotlight, more than in his time at Villarreal.”