WILLY Caballero has admitted he thought he was being pranked when first presented with the opportunity to join Saints, adding: “Then I realised it was real.”

The 40-year-old Argentine stopper was brought in by manager Ralph Hasenhuttl in December, after an injury to first-team goalkeeper Alex McCarthy during the Premier League clash with Brighton.

With then-number two Fraser Forster also on the sidelines, Saints faced going into matches with Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Brentford with only back-up Harry Lewis available.

Former Chelsea and Manchester City Caballero, who had been training with League One side AFC Wimbledon in order to stay fit as a free agent, revealed how one phone call looking to solve the Saints crisis led to a brand-new club – in just 48 hours.

"(It was goalkeeping coach) Andrew Sparkes (who called),” Caballero explained.

“I was watching the game and I didn't realise the injury immediately, but after they finished the game against Brighton, my phone started ringing.

“I thought it was a liar, first of all, but then I realised it was real and he explained the situation.”

He continued: “It was about whether I could come in on the Monday for a medical and to meet the staff, and from Saturday to Monday, I was from nothing to Southampton.

“It was crazy, but really exciting, but it was the opportunity I had been waiting for. The club asked me how are you, how do you feel, are you ready for the next challenge, and that was it.”

Signed initially on a one-month deal as emergency cover, it became apparent that Hasenhuttl wanted to keep the veteran in his playing squad almost immediately.

He then signed an extension to the end of the campaign in January, following the expiry of his initial deal.

And asked if he was familiar with goalkeeping coach Sparkes before he was invited down to the St Mary’s outfit in the first place, Caballero responded: “No, not at all! I just had the first chat by phone with him where he told me about the goalkeepers."

Caballero had been on the books with City and Chelsea between 2014-2017 and 2017-2021 respectively, but it had been five months as a free agent after that.

The Argentine has made two Premier League appearances and two FA Cup appearances since arriving at Saints.