Southampton have seen some fantastic players grace the St. Mary’s turf over the years.
The likes of Rickie Lambert, Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana, to name a few. One name who often gets overlooked, though, is Italian centre-forward Graziano Pelle.
The 34-year-old made 80 appearances for the Saints, scoring 30 goals and providing 10 assists for the club between the years of 2014-2016 (via Transfermarkt).
Pelle became something of a cult hero among Southampton fans during his time on the south coast, and when he departed for a fresh venture in the Chinese Super League three years ago, it was deemed as a significant loss for the club, who were only just coming to terms with losing Sadio Mane to Liverpool a month earlier.
Southampton welcome Chelsea to St. Mary’s this Sunday, precisely four years and four days after the Saints beat the Blues 3-1 at Stamford Bridge – a match that Pelle scored in.
The club’s official Twitter account posted the Italian’s goal from that fateful day in west London, and it’s taken these fans on a trip right down memory lane…
Please come back
— Ethan (@Dean22177) October 3, 2019
Bring him home or we riot
— Josh Harris (@SouthamptonJosh) October 3, 2019
I miss those days. Mane, Tadic and Pelle…
— Jack Gladman (@Jack__Gladman) October 3, 2019
I miss this team 😭😭😭😭
— Daniel Zambrano (@DaniiZF35) October 3, 2019
Grazzziiiiaaannnoooooo
— Robbie (@EditSouthampton) October 3, 2019
What a goal, what a guy!!
— Lee V (@SaintLee_) October 3, 2019
Saints fans, how much do you miss Pelle? Let us know by commenting below!
