“We have been looking for a young, hungry goalkeeper and Paulo fitted that mould,”

said Nigel Adkins, from the club’s pre-season base in Evian, after the club had announced the signing of the 20-year-old Argentine.

Gillingham, for whom Gazzaniga had played just 20 games during the 2011-12 season, received Saints’ yet-to-make-a senior-appearance goalkeeper, Tommy Forecast on a year’s loan as part of the deal, the details of which were otherwise “undisclosed”. Certainly, since Bart Bialkowski had left for Notts County Adkins had been in the market for a replacement and when Paulo duly made his debut, he replaced George Ephgrave, as Southampton’s tallest-ever ’keeper. Considering his youth and the fact he was now in the harsh glare of one of the world’s top Leagues, he started well enough.

But when he let a free-kick from Norwich’s Snodgrass pass under his body, in late November, it surrendered a 1-0 lead and arguably two points. Artur Boruc’s arrival meant he effectively now became the third choice and in the summer of 2016 he chose to accept a year’s loan move to Spain. Then in a surprise development, Mauricio Pochettino took him for Spurs on a five-year deal – the two men are from the same district in Argentina – and Tottenham’s manager wanted reliable back up for Hugo Lloris and Michel Vorm. When his contract expired in the close season of 2021 he signed a two-year deal with Fulham.