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Southampton troll rivals Portsmouth after signing their former player for £15m

Southampton have took to hilariously troll their rivals Portsmouth after signing their former player Gavin Bazunu for £15million.

The Saints have taken an opportunity to mock Pompey following the purchase of Bazunu just two months after he was named as Portsmouth’s player of the season.

The Premier League outfit have secured a five-year contract with the promising Republic of Ireland international, who leaves Man City, after he spent a season in League One with Rochdale before making 44 appearances for Pompey in the same division last time out.

Prior to the official Saints’ announcement on Twitter, they went back through Twitter and found a May tweet from Portsmouth that confirmed Bazunu as their player of the season, adding a smirking emoji which had supporters laughing.

Bazunu made 44 appearances in League One last season keeping 16 clean sheets and conceding only 51 goals as Portsmouth finished 10th in the final table.

The 20-year-old, who made 10 appearances for his country in 2021, was also named as the players’ player of the season alongside his player of the season award.

SOUTHAMPTON STATEMENT:

Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce it has completed the signing of goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu from Manchester City.

The 20-year-old, who already has 10 caps for Republic of Ireland, moves to St Mary’s on a five-year deal, becoming the club’s first new recruit of the summer.

Signed by the Premier League champions as a 16-year-old following an outstanding start to his fledgling career at Shamrock Rovers, Bazunu has gained valuable experience out on loan in League One.

After making 32 appearances for Rochdale in 2020/21, last season he excelled between the posts for Portsmouth, where he was voted Player of the Year by his teammates and the club’s supporters.

Ireland’s youngest ever goalkeeper, making his senior debut just one month after turning 19, Bazunu is already a regular starter for his country.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhüttl said: “As a club, we are always on the lookout for young talent and Gavin is a very exciting addition to the squad. We believe he has tremendous potential to improve and will give us great competition for places in the goalkeeping department.

“He is a goalkeeper with a very modern style of play, comfortable in the build-up phase, who has developed physically through some very important loan moves early in his career.

“He is already an international goalkeeper, which is very rare for his age. Coming from Manchester City, we know he has learned from some of the very best coaches and teammates, and coming here gives him more opportunities to develop his game through playing in the Premier League.”

Gavin Bazunu said: “I’m delighted to be here. It’s been in the works for a few weeks and I’m really happy that we’ve got everything over the line, and I’m just excited to see what’s ahead.

“I feel like it’s a place I can come and develop and learn my game. The biggest thing is opportunity – the fact that I can come here and have a chance to play regular football. Just to be given that opportunity to fight for my place is the biggest thing that I could’ve asked for.”

Fans reacted as Southampton troll rivals Portsmouth after signing their former player for £15m…

@sfcewan: I love this game

@kingkimber_: Oh admin I love you so much

@kierannkater98: Wadmin

@JoeHuttonn: what an announcement hahahahahahha

@Kyle_Roberts9: Incredible crack that, rate it a lot 😂

@SaintsDanSFC: Absolutely Brutal

@ericbrennan_: This is quality trolling

@pompey_geez_1: Given people went to war from Portsmouth, what has the great shithole of Southampton ever done to be a more ‘proper’ part of Hampshire? You’re just a train station en route Bournemouth.

@bradstevenss: Pompey fans have an awful lot to say for a club in league 1. We was supposed to play them for the last 3/4 seasons according to their fans. Maybe have to wait another season we’ll see. He’ll further his career with us, smart move from a lad who’s not greedy 👌 #shalalalalalala

@swansealex: This is the most brutal thing I’ve seen in a long while

@swfccom: There’s taking the piss & then there’s taking the piss

@mikeyavfc19: This is top notch

@PFCJ96: Haha class lads, add that to the major trophy cabinet that hasn’t been opened since 1976

@HLTCO: Southampton announcing the signing of Gavin Bazunu by quote tweeting their biggest rivals Portsmouth announcing the keeper as their Player of the Season is the sort of pettiness we can all get behind.

@DanLewis1999: Knew they’d have a dig ffs

@barstoolers: Oh that’s a bit cheeky.

@Crowley190: Good shithousery 😅

@Jordanstone_15: I hate Southampton but I quite respect this

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