CELTA VIGO striker Iago Aspas has been compared to Albert Einstein with fans convinced he deliberately got himself suspended after getting injured.
The Liverpool flop, 34, broke the deadlock in the 2-1 defeat against Valencia, but pulled up injured immediately after poking home his seventh goal of the season.
After team-mate Braid Mendez ran to celebrate with Aspas, the Spain international whispered in his air, before taking his shirt off and hitting the deck.
He was subsequently booked by referee Ricardo De Burgos in what was his fifth yellow card of the season.
Aspas was then substituted for Renato Tapia shortly after, with the forward to now miss Friday’s clash against Mallorca having picked up a one-game ban.
And fans have praised Aspas for his quick-thinking as they claimed he got himself cautioned on purpose to miss Celta’s next match to coincide with his recovery from his injury.
Reporter Zach Lowry tweeted: “Not even Einstein reached these levels of intelligence.”
The official International Champions Cup account posted: “Galaxy brain football move.”
A third user added: “I find it impressive that Aspas, just after scoring a goal and noticing physical discomfort, took off his shirt to get his 5th yellow card and thus clean himself of cards while he recovers. Amazing.”
Meanwhile one messaged: “Iago Aspas with an apparently incredibly shrewd move last night.
“After scoring, he felt injured, but had the presence of mind to remove his shirt to provoke his fifth yellow of the season. Suspension served while he recovers. Iago not just a pretty face it seem.”
Another simply stated: “Smart move by Aspas taking the fifth yellow.”
Meanwhile one commented: “Iago Aspas is a genius.”
There is still a chance that Aspas, who scored just once in 15 games for the Reds during the 2013-14 season, could be handed a further fine.
Sergio Ramos picked up a further game ban in Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final clash against Ajax in 2019 after deliberately getting himself booked.
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