There was once a time, only three years ago, when Roberto Pereyra lined up alongside Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba in a Champions League final for Juventus.
This is the status with which he proudly arrived as a Premier League player two summers ago yet for much of his time in England, it has appeared an illusion to think that Watford had a world-class player in their grasp.
His progress has been stunted by injury problems, particularly a severe blow to the knee, as well as inconsistency when he has taken to the field.
Roberto Pereyra (R) was the hero for Watford as they began the new Premier League season with easy victory over Brighton

The Argentine forward completes his brace nine minutes after the interval by curling the ball past Shane Duffy and Mat Ryan

Pereyra, who netted only five goals throughout last season, celebrates after also scoring Watford’s first of the new campaign

The former Juventus man finds the back of the net with a sensational volley teed up by a corner from left-back Jose Holebas
Yet in the Hertfordshire sunshine, Pereyra reminded the home crowd of his talents in quite sensational fashion as Watford launched their fourth consecutive Premier League campaign with a fluid victory over Brighton.
Pereyra’s first goal will not be bettered anywhere in the Premier League this weekend. After a tippy-tappy short corner routine, Jose Holebas curled over an out-swinging cross from the left side and the Argentine Pereyra watched the ball’s flight through the air and caught it beautifully to send a volley searing through the hands of goalkeeper Mat Ryan and into the top corner of the goal.
For Watford, it was a much-needed breakthrough. It has been an unusually stable summer at Vicarage Road, with Javi Gracia the first manager to end one season and start the next since the club returned to the Premier League. Their transfer dealings have been more reserved, too, with Ben Foster the only new signing in the starting XI.

Brighton’s players appear dejected after allowing Pereyra to put Watford ahead with a well-worked goal from a set-piece

Watford supporters celebrate Pereyra’s heroics as they hope for an improvement on last year’s 14th-place league position

Anthony Knockaert goes to ground following a challenge from Christian Kabasele, but the referee does not give a penalty
Following the departure of Brazilian Richarlison to Everton, some observers may have wondered whether Watford may find themselves in significant bother this season.
Not on this evidence. Watford defended with the greater authority, passed the ball with more purpose in midfield, as Will Hughes and Abdoulaye Doucoure controlled the play, and created by far the clearer chances.
The Watford fans enjoyed it, serenading their goalkeeper with chants of ‘Foster’s Coming Home’ after the goalkeeper returned for the first time since his loan spell at the club eleven years ago.
For Brighton, the portents are less positive. This was a performance that should yield concerns. Chris Hughton oversaw a summer spend in excess of £50million but the £8.5m full-back Bernardo was the only new starter.
Brighton, for all their fine progress last season, had the worst away record in the division, taking only 11 points and winning just two matches and that same inhibited form returned here. The away team did not have a shot on target throughout and it simply must be better.
These, of course, are early days in the campaign but Hughton is acutely aware that his side face Manchester United and Liverpool in their next two and also play Tottenham and Manchester City before the end of September.

Kabasele battles for possession with Pascal Gross as Brighton struggle to get a foothold in the game in Hertfordshire

Brighton lose experienced captain Bruno Saltor to injury trouble after just 26 minutes, with Gaetan Bong coming on instead

Hornets boss Javi Gracia, who replaced Marco Silva back in January, issues instructions to his players from the touchline
In truth, Brighton never looked likely to cause Watford any trouble. Watford were sharper from the start, as Andre Gray scuttled through on goal and had a low effort well saved by Mat Ryan.
Gray’s movement, alongside the enduring brawny presence of Troy Deeney, was often too much for the Brighton defence and the pair should really have had a goal apiece in the first period.
In the match-day programme, Deeney revealed he had spoken to a nutritionist and shed some weight over the summer. He certainly appeared faster when he broke in behind midway through the first-half.
A swift counter-attack released the forward and when Pereyra’s low strike fell into his path from ten yards out, Deeney had only the goalkeeper to beat but was brilliantly denied by Ryan. In the current goalkeeping market, Brighton’s £5.2m signing of Ryan last summer appears increasingly shrewd business.

Opposite number Chris Hughton does likewise as he bids to improve Brighton’s woeful away record in the top flight

Uncertainty in the Watford penalty area as new signing Ben Foster seeks to keep his clean sheet intact following a corner

Veteran striker Glenn Murray sits on the ground rubbing his foot on a frustrating afternoon for Brighton’s attacking unit

Man of the moment Pereyra is put under pressure by Albion midfielder Dale Stephens during competitive first half of action
Brighton did briefly threaten. Dale Stephens hooked a volley wide from a Bruno cross and Knockaert had a very soft penalty appeal turned down.
It only increased the rancour between the home Watford crowd and the French winger. There is history after Knockaert’s penalty miss in a play-off semi-final for Leicester against Watford and Knockaert was last season the recipient of a dreadful red-card lunge by Miguel Britos in the corresponding fixture.
After the break, it appeared Brighton could only improve but instead, Watford grabbed the initiative. Gracia’s team should have their doubled their lead when Jose Holebas’ outstanding free-kick was met by Christian Kabasele but instead sealed their win when Pereyra drifted in from the left flank, opened up his body and curled a clinical finish into the far corner.

Brighton custodian Ryan confidently rises above Duffy and striker Troy Deeney to claim possession inside his penalty area

Watford frontman Andre Gray and imposing Brighton centre-back Lewis Dunk compete for aerial supremacy at Vicarage Road

French midfielder Etienne Capoue shouts in pain after a challenge from Stephens before being booked for a foul of his own

Ben Foster made his second debut for Watford between the posts after rejoining the club from West Brom during the summer

Brighton fans packed out the away end at Vicarage Road to watch their team begin a second campaign in the Premier League