Positive reviews from former Hornets and the desire for an exciting new challenge convinced Mario Gaspar to become a Watford player, as the Spaniard put pen to paper on a move to Vicarage Road following his departure from Villarreal.

A keen viewer of English football, the 31-year-old has joined up with training and settled in quickly with his new teammates, and is looking forward to putting on a Watford shirt for the first time.

“I’m very happy to be here and to have the opportunity to play for this club,” said the Spain international. “I’m looking forward to starting.

“People recommended this club to me and now that I am here, I can say that they were right. Everyone has welcomed me in a very warm way, from the teammates to the staff.

“I’m a football lover so I know about the club, I follow the Premier League and have heard stories from former teammates who played for the club.”

One former teammate of Mario’s is Étienne Capoue, the fan-favourite midfielder who turned out for Watford between 2015 and 2021 and won the 2018/19 club Player of the Year award. Playing alongside the Golden Boys’ new recruit for 18 months, the Frenchman recommended the club to Mario.

Mario smiled: “He’s a great teammate and a fantastic friend. I know the fans loved him here, they love him at Villarreal as well.

“I spoke with him when this opportunity arose and he spoke in a very good way about the club, the facilities and the fans. He was one of the people who pushed me to come here.”

Third on the all-time appearances list for the Yellow Submarine, moving club and country was far from an easy decision, but Mario has embraced his move. He understands that Championship football will be a tough new challenge, but he has achieved success in a second-tier before, winning promotion in Spain in 2013.

“I’ve spent my whole life at Villarreal and gained a lot of experience there, but always at the same club,” the right-back explained. “The idea of moving abroad to a league like the Championship is a challenge that excites me.

“I’ve come here with the objective of taking this team back to the Premier League. I achieved this at Villarreal in 2013, and the feeling was fantastic. Hopefully I can feel the same emotions again. I know the Championship is very long and very tough, but we have to go through it and push for promotion.”

Villarreal won their first major trophy with Mario in the team, seeing off Manchester United on penalties in the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League final. The defender’s extensive CV stands him in good stead and provides him with knowledge to impart on younger members of Rob Edwards’ Watford squad.

“It was a dream come true, the first trophy in the club’s history,” reminisced Mario. “We came close in previous years but always got eliminated in quarter-finals and semi-finals. Lifting a trophy at the club where you grew up is an incredible feeling.

“It’s one of the reasons I came here, to bring my experience. I have the duty to transmit that to younger players and help the club to have a successful season.”

Swapping the yellow of Villarreal for that of Watford, Mario admits it isn’t down to a colour preference, but excitedly anticipates stepping out at Vicarage Road to a sea of yellow in the upcoming season.

Added Mario: “It’s a coincidence! I’ve spent my whole life wearing a yellow shirt and here I am wearing yellow again. I have only received positive feedback about the stadium, the pitch and the fans, so I cannot wait to be there.”

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