Mauro Zárate is now the top scorer in Vélez Sarsfield history

We’ve always had a soft spot for Mauro Zárate, even though he only spent a year with Fiorentina and left on somewhat unpleasant terms. Even though the Argentine scored just 7 goals (with 3 assists) in purple, his penchant for the spectacular made him a bit of a cult favorite.

Since his move to Watford last year, he’s endured a rather difficult stretch. He ruptured his cruciate ligament almost immediately upon joining the Hornets, who pretty much immediately tried to offload him. A loan to Al-Nasr in the UAE resulted in 3 goals and an assist in 8 appearances, but Maurito never settled in and managed to set up a return to boyhood club Vélez Sarsfield, which has always had a special place in his heart.

In 8 appearances for the Fortineros, he’s already notched 4 goals and an assist, proving that he’s back where he belongs. And last month, he became the club’s all-time leading scorer, notching his 43rd goal (he’d add another the week after to bring his total to 44). It took him 101 appearances to reach the milestone, and you can tell that he is delighted.

This is as good an excuse as any to watch some of those wonderful goals he scored in purple, too. How about this monstrous rip against Carpi to snatch a dramatic late win?

Or this outrageous volley to take the lead against Napoli?

He never scored a bad goal, and we’re thrilled that he’s back home and having a great time. Still just 31 years old, he’s surely got another few seasons of goals in him to widen the gap on the man who held the Vélez Sarsfield record before him. Oh, who was it who had that record? Just some ice-cold penalty taker named Santiago “el Tanque” Silva.