Hammer would have thrived under Lopetegui

Pablo Fornals has disclosed that he left West Ham because David Moyes couldn’t guarantee him sufficient playing time. This revelation isn’t surprising to Hammers fans, who had grown fond of the Spaniard. Personally, I always admired Fornals, as he seemed to genuinely care for the club and its supporters, making the way his tenure ended regrettable.

The irony of Fornals departing just six months before a possession-focused manager arrived isn’t lost on me. I’ll always believe that being played out of position on the left side hindered him. Under Moyes, West Ham’s left wing was always a graveyard shift for any player, but Fornals took it on without complaint.

In an interview with Canal Sur Radio, Fornals explained his exit from West Ham. His playing time had been reduced earlier in the season, though he started seeing more action weeks before leaving. With his contract expiring in June, Fornals decided to move on.

“I was playing less this season, but I played a lot in January,” he said. “The situation favored me because my contract was ending, and mentally, my family’s time in London had run its course. If not at Christmas, it would have been in the summer. The result would have been the same.”

“I wasn’t the type of player they wanted to offload, but David [Moyes] told me he couldn’t give me the minutes I was seeking.”

Fornals joined West Ham from Villarreal in 2019, during Manuel Pellegrini’s management. Now at Real Betis, Fornals has reunited with his former boss and has been a regular presence under his direction this year.