Watford midfielder Domingos Quina has the chance to show Manuel Pellegrini his ability up close this weekend.
The West Ham United boss has admitted in the buildup to the game that he personally was not responsible for the £1 million sale of Quina to the Hornets in the summer, and that he ‘didn’t know about him’.
Quina was allowed to leave the Hammers for the measly sum after the Chilean overhauled the squad, spending over £100 million in the process.
It was a decision that split the fanbase, with many of the belief that his promise should have forced the club to think twice.
Pellegrini admitted, as quoted by The Daily Mail: “I didn’t sell him in the summer, I didn’t know about him because when I arrived here he was playing in Portugal with his young national squad.”
The decision appeared to be vindicated for the first couple of months, but Quina has now found his feet and is flourishing at Watford.
He recently became the club’s youngest ever Premier League goalscorer with his strike against Cardiff City last weekend.
Quina to leave Pellegrini with regrets?
The 19-year-old will be hoping to show Pellegrini exactly what he could have had as the Hornets take on the Hammers at the London Stadium on Saturday.
Quina can use Pellegrini’s comments as motivation to play well, and leave him with big regrets over the sale.
Pellegrini may have been powerless to prevent his departure, but he’ll still hope to perform well against his old club.
It’s likely he will start the game, which will be his third in a row in the Premier League.