GUIDO Carrillo has revealed that former Saints manager Mauricio Pellegrino was the reason he joined Leganes on loan.

Carrillo signed for Southampton in this year’s January transfer window when Pellegrino was still in charge of the St Mary’s side.

However, when the Argentine was replaced by Mark Hughes in March, the striker found his game time to be limited.

He was sent out on loan in the summer and admitted that it was an easy decision to make.

Carrillo said: “Mauricio called me directly. It was all very fast.”

“They had called me from other clubs here in Spain, but I did not hesitate when Mauricio called me.

“He told me about the project and knowing that I wanted minutes, I did not doubt it.

“I knew Leganes because I was following La Liga and I confirmed that the project I was seeing is good.”

Carrillo struggled to make an impact during his short spell on the south coast after failing to score in any of his seven appearances.

The Argentine has already seen a change in fortune since moving to Spain where he has found the back of the net twice in eight games.

“I’ve known Mauricio since I played in Argentina. He called me to play at Southampton. We did not share much time there and now we have reunited here at Leganes.”