In this way, and after becoming the first signing of Real Zaragoza's new project, Jardí has received the season's first major individual recognition after just three rounds of competition, beating Meshak of Nàstic de Tarragona, Anai Morales of UD Logroñés and Joselillo Gaitán of Villarreal's reserve team in the vote.
The award comes after his outstanding performance at El Pozuelo, where Real Zaragoza secured a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Juventud de Torremolinos. Jardí was the game's leading figure, scoring a superb direct free-kick and providing two assists for Diego González and Saidu. He also played a decisive role in the Blanquillo side's opening goal, as his powerful shot struck the opposing goalkeeper before ending up in the net.
His influence was reflected in the statistics. The Tarragona-born player was Ibai Gómez's team's main source of danger, recording five key passes, 16 passes into the final third and six progressive carries. These figures explain the winger's importance in a victory that demanded so much from the Aragonese side.
A DIFFERENCE-MAKING PLAYER
It took Jardí three rounds to provide the first glimpse of what was expected of him when he joined Real Zaragoza. The Catalan arrived with a reputation as one of the most game-changing players in the attacking area and, after two opening rounds in which he was not quite at his best, stepped up in Torremolinos.
In the second half against Antequera, he had already shown several flashes of his quality and of the left foot expected to make a difference throughout the season. At El Pozuelo, those flashes became a decisive performance and now also Real Zaragoza's first MVP award of the campaign.
