How £6m man Martin Payero is getting on after Middlesbrough exit - He’s currently playing with Jamie Vardy in Italy | OneFootball

Martin Payero made just 16 appearances for Middlesbrough in two years contracted to the club, and is now starring in the Italian Serie A

Argentine midfielder Martin Payero spent two years contracted to Middlesbrough but struggled to make an impact during his time at The Riverside, and is now starring in the Italian Serie A alongside former Leicester City favourite Jamie Vardy.

In August 2021, Middlesbrough completed the £6 million signing of then-22-year-old midfielder Martin Payero from Argentine side Banfield, and upon his arrival, it was expected he would take the Boro midfield to the next level.

Payero had starred in his native Argentina for Banfield, as well as at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, which led to a switch to Europe being heavily touted, when Middlesbrough swooped in and handed the midfielder a three-year deal to move to Teesside.

Upon his arrival, then Boro boss Neil Warnock said: "Martin will be a great addition.

"He will be an exciting signing, we’re delighted to get everything done, and we’re looking forward to working with him.

"I know Martin is looking forward to it and can’t wait to play in front of our fans."

With Middlesbrough having finished 10th the season prior, the ambition for the 2021/22 campaign was clear: a top-six finish, and with Payero now in the side, many Boro fans were hoping that he would be the catalyst that fired them to that play-off finish.

However, that couldn't have been much further from the case.

Martin Payero struggled to break into the side following his move to Middlesbrough

Upon his arrival on Teesside, the Argentine found it difficult to break into the Boro midfield, having to compete with the likes of Jonny Howson, Matt Crooks, Sam Morsy and Marcus Tavernier for a place in the midfield.

He would make his debut for the club in a 3-0 loss away to Blackpool in the EFL Cup, and would make his league debut just three days later in a 2-1 home victory over Bristol City in the league, replacing Uche Ikpeazu to earn his first minutes in the Championship.

Despite his lofty price tag, Warnock remained unconvinced, and Payero would have to wait until late September to earn his first start in the league, coming in a 1-0 away defeat to Reading, where he was replaced around the hour mark.

However, between matchday 12 and 15, Payero started and played the full 90 minutes in each of Middlesbrough's four league games, as he finally looked like he had broken into the side, but following the dismissal of Warnock, Chris Wilder arrived on Teesside, and the Argentine would have to prove himself all over again.

Payero would play just four times for the remainder of the season, with an ankle injury picked up away to Queens Park Rangers keeping him out of action for a sustained period, and following the end of the season, the midfielder would return to Argentina to spend the rest of the 2022/23 season on loan with Boca Juniors.

In September 2023, with one year remaining on his deal with Boro, Payero was sold to Italian side Udinese for a reported £3 million and has remained in the country ever since.

Payero spent two seasons with Udinese as a regular fixture in the club's midfield, but would move to fellow Italian Serie A side Cremonese this summer on loan with an obligation to buy, linking up with a certain Jamie Vardy.

The midfielder made 56 appearances for Udinese across all competitions, scoring three and grabbing five assists, and in Cremonese's Monday night fixture away to a strong Bologna side, Payero netted the opening goal in a 3-1 win, with Vardy grabbing the away side's other two.

It was his first goal for the club since his summer switch, and he has missed just three Serie A games so far this season, two of them out with an injury.

At 27, Payero may never hit the heights his early form had promised, but he has forged a good career for himself upon his departure from Middlesbrough, who will no doubt be full of regrets that he was unable to produce any sort of consistent form during his time in England.