THERE are a few players in the West Ham United ranks who have never been seen or heard of since they joined: Our defensive rebuild is in the spotlight as we wait for our latest £40 million contract signing to be verified.
One of our lesser-known signings has puzzled me since his joining in January 2023, having not made the first team squad or bench on any occasion, turning out instead for the Under 21 team.
What is more puzzling is that according to source PL Brasil there have been more than a dozen requests to take him back to Brazil on loan, all of which were rejected by the ‘previous administration’. Is it just another case of Moyes’ taking against the player and not giving him a chance or was this a signing for the future that hasn’t worked so far?
Maybe there will be a new dawn with Lopetegui taking a fresh look at some of the ‘forgotten’ squad players, including Luizao, a young centre back who came originally from Sao Paolo’s youth system into their first team in May 2022 before signing for us in January last year.
Overseas interest is still as strong as ever for the player, with Head Coach of Turkish club Antalyaspor Alex de Souza making a special request to his club for a new effort to sign the 22 year old Hammers centre back in this window. The Head Coach had worked with the player before and absolutely rates him.
The 1.87 metre left-footed defender ( just what we need..) hasn’t created any waves just yet with transfermarkt valuing him at under a million. Let’s hope for his sake there are better times ahead. I still can’t work out why he hasn’t been loaned out as ‘one for the future’- otherwise – what made him worth signing just over a year ago?
Just letting you know, unless I am wrong I think Antalyaspor is a Turkish club
Thank you, I stand corrected M
A young centre back with bags of potential that will play in the development squad, that’s what we signed and that’s what we’ve still got.
Central defenders and goal keepers will usually be the oldest players in your squad as stats show they have the longest careers at the top level. I would say there’s no rush and would have to weigh up what the best way forward is for the individual. Is it a loan move to play against men or carry on in the U21 comp to gain more experience against others on the cusp of premier league levels? The latter for me especially if the loan means going back to Brazil and playing a different style of football.
I saw him play for the U21’s once last season plus also various highlights of their matches on YouTube and personally I thought he looked some way off first team level.
By the way Antalyaspor is a Turkish club not Brazilian.
Agree, but you only mention 2 of the the lost souls who have just been ignored over the last couple of years, 🤞this manager looks at all the potential we have and galvanises a squad that continues to improve
Martin, perhaps try and speak to whoever it is C&H knows within the club and ask them for an explanation. Trouble is it’s not just Luizao that’s a puzzle there’s the likes of Cornet amongst others who have never been given a proper chance of proving themselves since we signed them. I know we know the answer to this question (Moyes) but might still be worth asking the question 🤔