Ex-Arsenal man Perez scores twice for Deportivo after paying half his transfer fee

Perez re-joined his local side for the third time in the January transfer window, and paid half of his transfer fee, before scoring twice on a dream return.

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Born in the city of A Coruna in north western Spain, the now 34-year-old Perez reportedly paid half of his £400,000 price tag to leave Cadiz and return home in January.

And it would be an understatement to say that the former Champions League semi-finalists desperately need him, having dropped all the way down to the third tier of Spanish football.

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Perez left Depor for the Gunners in 2016 in a £17million move, but only managed 11 goals before a loan back home and then a permanent transfer to West Ham.

During his time away, Depor have since experienced a huge fall, but you could hardly tell as a packed Riazor welcomed back Perez against Unionistas de Salamanca, and they were richly rewarded.

After a goalless first-half, Perez latched onto a clever pass with only the goalkeeper to beat, and did so in style, dummying past him before slotting into an empty net.

Salamanca's keeper Salvador de la Cruz later saw red before a penalty effectively ended the game.

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Perez wasn't done though, finishing off his brace for the 3-0 win after finding space in the box to confidently plant the ball in the net.

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The win is Depor's third on the bounce as they desperately seek a return to the second tier, and they currently sit four points off top spot and automatic promotion.

Speaking post-match, Perez said: "It was special I'm going back home, to the Riazor.

"What I liked the most was the atmosphere, it was incredible. It's what we want, for it to be a party and for the fans to take us on flying, as it has been.

"All day they were cheering and it gives us wings to continue and achieve the goal."

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