West Ham Exclusive | Todibo Fights as Source Denies Fallout Claim

West Ham defender Jean-Clair Todibo has come out fighting after what has been a difficult few months. The French centre-back cost the Hammers £35m following his move from Ligue 1 side Nice but has so far failed to live up to that valuation.

History of Fallouts

The former Barcelona man has clashed with West Ham’s last two managers – Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter – and his exclusion from Nuno Espirito Santo’s first squad had many speculating that history had repeated itself.

Todibo was pictured alongside Nuno during his first training session at Rush Green last Friday. However, when asked why the defender hadn’t made the matchday squad, the new boss gave a blunt response:
“We arrived three days ago, we had to make a squad list. Players understand because I am direct and honest and I explained to them.”

No mention of injury, no suggestion Todibo was central to future plans – just Nuno insisting he did what was best for the team.

Transfer Rumours Emerge

Since then, Todibo has been linked with a January move away from the London Stadium, which prompted a source close to the player to speak directly to Claret & Hugh this afternoon:
“There has been no fallout, Todibo will be back in the team soon.”

And that was that. The record, at least for now, has been set straight.

Still, if the defender’s absence was injury-related, one might have expected the manager to clarify it. Nuno did later hint in his Arsenal press conference that Todibo had missed one training session, so perhaps that explains the omission.

Time will tell.