The winger has taken time to settle in the Premier League but his winner against Arsenal could make him a Villa Park hero
In terms of weekends away, Dean Smith’s trip to Cairo last June could prove to be one of the best he has ever made. Accompanied by the Aston Villa sporting director, Jesús García Pitarch, the manager was in the Egyptian capital to run the rule over Mahmoud Trezeguet one last time before handing him the opportunity of a lifetime.
The winger had been starring for the Turkish club Kasimpasa and outshone Mohamed Salah by scoring in the hosts’ opening victory. An anonymous performance in Egypt’s shock defeat to South Africa in the last 16 did not dissuade Smith from taking the plunge for just £8.5m. How the player, who was given his moniker at the age of nine by a teacher due to his apparent resemblance to the former France striker, has repaid that gamble.
Related: Dean Smith urges Aston Villa to win final game and secure great escape
Related: Mahmoud Trezeguet downs Arsenal to lift Aston Villa out of relegation zone
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