Cardiff City: Neil Warnock said 2018 recruit had 'something to prove' - he certainly left his mark | OneFootball

Victor Camarasa arrived an unknown quantity at Cardiff City, and left as one of the club's finest in recent times

Upon completing the signing of Victor Camarasa ahead of Cardiff City’s 2018/19 Premier League campaign, then-manager Neil Warnock declared the midfielder had “something to prove.”

Cardiff themselves headed into the top-flight with a significant point, having been written off before a ball had been kicked.

Indeed, from some quarters, they had been predicted to set a new record for the lowest return of points accumulated across a single season, which is held by Derby County to this day after their miserable 11-point haul in the 2007/08 term.

The Bluebirds had stunned the Championship during the previous season by overpowering vastly superior budgets and, it could reasonably be argued, playing squads too in order to romp to an unlikely Premier League return under the revered promotion specialist, but their fortunes were not favoured quite so much back in the big time.

Alas, Cardiff managed to relatively upset the odds. Although they ultimately fell short of sealing survival by just two points amid myriad mitigating circumstances, Warnock’s side left a stronger account than many had expected by remaining competitive and lasting all the way to the penultimate game of the season in the reckoning to stay in the league.

In particular, Camarasa most certainly left his mark that year, as he offered Cardiff every last ounce of star quality in order to give his side a fighting chance of survival.

Neil Warnock said Victor Camarasa had “something to prove” at Cardiff City

Cardiff's 2018 summer transfer window hardly felt ideal preparation for the rigors and waves of English football's top-flight, especially in comparison to Wolves and Fulham, who both accompanied the Bluebirds in promotion.

The majority of their business was conducted in the Championship as the likes of Bobby Decordova-Reid, Josh Murphy and Alex Smithies headed to the Welsh capital, although Warnock decided to complete a late, left-field deal for Camarasa, who was then contracted to Real Betis.

Camarasa represented an unknown quantity at the time of his arrival. The Spanish midfielder, who joined Cardiff in a deadline day loan deal, had behind him a solid body of work back in his homeland after spending the previous four seasons playing in LaLiga, but few supporters could've professed to being all that familiar with the Betis loanee when he first joined.

Warnock, who watched Camarasa in action for Betis during a pre-season friendly against Bournemouth, declared the then-24-year-old had a "point to prove". Camarasa, it must be said, set about proving that point rather quickly.

"He played on Friday at Bournemouth and was mentioned to me before that," said the Yorkshireman after signing Camarasa.

"We had someone at the game at Bournemouth, talked to him at great length and then looked beyond that.

Victor Camarasa was sensational for Neil Warnock's Cardiff City in 2018/19

Soon after Camarasa signed for Cardiff, supporters began to wonder in unison just how their side had managed to pull off a deal for such a naturally talented player. It became instantly apparent that Camarasa was, quite simply, classes and classes above his counterparts at City, with his classy passing range, venomous ball-striking quality and graceful close control.

Precociously talented, Camarasa brought a much-needed degree of X-Factor to an otherwise-dogged and diligent archetypal Warnock side. He was outstanding for large parts of the season and gave fans memories to savour long after his departure, namely his last-minute screamer to clinch a dramatic victory away at Leicester City.

Mind you, Camarasa also scored against Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, underlining his ability to mix it with some of the best. He has to go down, without a shadow of a doubt, among the most naturally talented players to turn out for the Bluebirds in many a year, which is why supporters still reminisce over him to this very day.

It was no wonder, then, that the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United both reportedly eyed a deal for Camarasa at the end of the season - such was the gravity of his displays for City.

Unfortunately, it just hasn't worked out for Camarasa since his days at Cardiff. He eventually joined Crystal Palace on loan the following season but hardly got a look in under Roy Hodgson before returning to his native Spain, where both injuries and mental health struggles sadly took their toll.

Importantly for Camarasa, he appears to be in a better place and is now back playing football with Eldense of the Spanish second-tier.

He may well wonder how differently his career could, and arguably should have played out considering the level of talent we're talking about here, but what isn't in doubt is just how classy he was for Cardiff, and he certainly proved the point which Warnock alluded to upon his arrival.