Back in the January transfer window of 2017, Southampton signed striker Manolo Gabbiadini from Napoli in what initially looked to be a great bit of business done by the club.
The Italian was warmly welcomed by supporters and started to instantly repay the faith shown in him by them and manager Claude Puel.
https://twitter.com/SAINTSINFRANCE/status/826550986441359360
great! now do the same again with the defender we were promised
— 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮 (@stillsbyharry) January 31, 2017
Benvenuto, Manolo! Pleased to have another Italian striker at our great club!
— SaintCirce #FBGC (@SaintCirce) January 31, 2017
Good start. Now for the Fonte replacement… #SaintsFC
— Gary (@Gary_SaintsFC) January 31, 2017
brilliant and now please announce at least one CB as well
— Adam 🏴 (@en0ughi5en0ugh) January 31, 2017
Great signing! No pressure but needs to hit the ground running with goals! #WeMarchOn
— Kevin Polkinghorne (@pokers15) January 31, 2017
Welcome Manolo, delighted to have you. Are you up for playing two games on the trot? COYR
— Shaun Saintly (@Shaunsaint1976) January 31, 2017
16% conversion rate Anyway Can’t Be As Bad As Redmond. Welcome!
— Alex Hammond (LeMaitre) (@sainthammond) January 31, 2017
In his Premier League debut for the club against West Ham, £10.8m-rated (via Transfermarkt) Gabbiadini got his name on the scoresheet in a 3-1 defeat before putting in arguably one the greatest performances from a centre-forward in a modern League Cup final.
The Italy international netted twice in Southampton’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United at Wembley and was denied the possibility of a hat-trick after having a perfectly fine goal disallowed for offside.
However, it has been all downhill for Gabbiadini since then with the former Napoli man having struggled significantly in front of goal in his first full season on the south coast.
With Danny Ings now at the club and Charlie Austin fit, Gabbiadini now finds himself reduced to a role on the bench after such a promising start to life at St. Mary’s.
