Yeremy Pino has made a bright start to life at Crystal Palace.
The Spaniard arrived in a £21.6m move from Villarreal back in August, taking the No.10 shirt vacated by Eberechi Eze and looking every bit as good as the Londoner with two assists in the win over Dynamo Kyiv.
However – according to the Telegraph – Crystal Palace had a doubt over Pino during transfer discussions which those on the recruitment team eventually decided to ignore.
Crystal Palace were unsure if Yeremy Pino was the right fit
It is said that the Spain international was an option Crystal Palace considered late on in the window after Eze moved to Arsenal, suggesting he was not a target from the start of the summer.
The Telegraph add that the Eagles debated whether Pino was “right for them” during a recruitment meeting, but ultimately decided to proceed with the £21.6m deal anyway – a move which early signs suggest was a smart one.
Pino impressed Crystal Palace fans after his debut in the 0-0 draw against Sunderland, and is now starting to settle in under Oliver Glasner, a point emphasised by his Man of the Match display against Dynamo Kyiv.
Yeremy Pino deal proves there can be life after Dougie Freedman
Dougie Freedman is arguably the most important man in the history of Crystal Palace, first building and managing the team which won promotion in 2013, before constructing this current juggernaut of a side on a tight budget in his role as Director of Football.
Therefore, many were concerned when the Glaswegian left for Saudi Arabia in March, but the shrewd £21.6m capture of Pino suggests Crystal Palace remains in good hands in terms of recruitment.
Iain Moody and Steve Parish oversaw recruitment in the summer, but Matt Hobbs is now in place as Director of Football following his exit from Wolves in June.
The Englishman has a strong reputation from his time in the Midlands, and specifically has a keen eye for Brazilian talent having signed Matheus Cunha, Joao Gomes and Andre at Molineux.
If Pino is just the start of what’s to come in the post-Freedman era, it bodes very well indeed.
