ARSENAL flop Lucas Perez scored a stunning free-kick as he helped home town team Deportivo La Coruna return to the second tier of Spanish football.
The former Arsenal striker, gave up around £500,000 from his own pocket in order to rejoin Depor in January last year.
Since reaching the Champions League semi-finals 20 years ago, Deportivo have fallen into the wilderness.
This season marked the fourth since they slipped out of the Spanish second tier, let alone LaLiga.
With the help of Perez, who has captained the team on occasion this term, Depor are now on their way back.
They clinched the title by beating Barcelona Atletic, essentially Barca’s B team, 1-0 at a packed Riazor.
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Perez fittingly bagged the winner, netting a stunning 57th minute free-kick.
He has scored 12 league goals this season, in addition to 17 assists.
Upon sealing promotion, the forward told Relevo: “I came to help. I am very happy to see A Coruna like this, very happy to return to professional football with Deportivo; it is joyous.
“When you have the excitement of returning home you always imagine that beautiful things will happen. It’s amazing to see the atmosphere and make people happy.
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“To the fans I can only say that thank you very much for everything you have given me and blessed me with.
“I hope that we are very happy, that they bring us great satisfaction at Depor and that we can all enjoy them together.”
Getting a ticket for Deportivo games this season has been a challenge, such has been the demand.
They have a club-record 28,500 season ticket holders, with their ground capacity standing at 32,490.
Only Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Atletico Madrid have won LaLiga since Deportivo triumphed in 2000.
Due to financial chaos behind the scenes, however, things eventually spiralled at Riazor.
Perez began his career with Atletico Madrid, before moving to Rayo Vallecano in a bid for first team opportunities.
He then moved to Ukrainian side Karpaty Lviv before earning a move to Greek team PAOK in 2013.
When you have the excitement of returning home you always imagine that beautiful things will happen.
Lucas Perez
During his second year there he moved on loan to Deportivo, for the first of four stints at the club.
Perez moved to Riazor permanently in 2015, and a year later earned a £17million move to Arsenal.
After failing to establish himself at the Emirates he again returned to Deportivo on loan in 2017, only to sign for West Ham in 2018.
Following a low-key season in East London he signed for Alaves, ahead of further moves to Elche and Cadiz.
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It was the latter he left 18 months ago in order to drop down two tiers to sign for Deportivo.
But it now remains to be seen whether he will stay for a crack at the second tier, as his contract is set to expire.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
