Padula arrived at Walsall in November 1999. After quickly making the left back position his own, he went onto represent us 27 times. At the end of the campaign he was named Player of the Season. He left at the end of the May and joined Wigan, where he was unable tp make any impact. After leaving the JJB he became a hugely popular with QPR fans during his three years at Loftus Road. In 2005 he linked up with Nottingham Forest but was restricted to only five games. He left having never played in a winning side during his stay at the City Ground
The Argentinean told the BBC:
"I'll miss England, but this is a great opportunity for me. It's a chance to play in a good league in a different country and I'm really looking forward to it.
Winning promotion with QPR was the highlight of my time in England. The Rangers fans were great to me and I will always remember them and miss them very much. I still believe that one day the club will get back to the Premiership.
I also wish Forest the best. The manager Colin Calderwood is a good man and a good manager and I hope they go up."