Mauro Zarate’s long expected return to boyhood club Velez Sarsfield has been officially confirmed by Watford tonight.

The 30-year-old had cut short a season-long loan in Dubai with Al-Nasr to return home to Argentina, with Sarsfield announcing the former West Ham United player’s return earlier this month before unveiling him to adoring fans.

Our understanding – as we reported – was that this was done without the permission of his parent club as the requisite paperwork had not been completed.

The Hornets have confirmed that Zarate has now joined Sarsfield on loan until the end of the current campaign “after Watford finally received paperwork in order to process the loan transfer”.

The club also added on their website: “Previous announcements were entirely premature as the agreements were only reached today.”