Angelo Ogbonna is refusing to rule out a return to Serie A after almost a decade in the Premier League with West Ham United.
The veteran defender will be at Wembley tonight as England take on Italy for a place in Euro 2024. And, with West Ham team-mate’s past and present likely to feature for the Three Lions – Jarrod Bowen and Declan Rice part of Gareth Southgate’s squad – a player who moved to London nine years ago could be forgiven for suffering from split allegiances.
Angelo Ogbonna is pretty much an adopted Cockney these days, one of West Ham’s longest-serving players making nearly 250 appearances since his arrival from Juventus.
But at the age of 35, and with his contract expiring next summer, Ogbonna is hurtling towards last-chance saloon territory. In short, if he doesn’t return to Italy in 2024, when he is due to become a free-agent, then he might never again set foot on Serie A soil.
Angelo Ogbonna may be leaving West Ham United
“Football is unpredictable. Every door is open,” Ogbonna told Tuttomercatoweb when asked if he plans to return to Italy before hanging up his boots.
“My dream and my passion is football. I live on football, (so) any destination is important. The only thing that matters is that I want to continue to play.”
Starting only once in the Premier League so far this term, Ogbonna may have reservations about extending his stay at West Ham if David Moyes cannot guarantee him a more regular role ahead of Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd.
Malick Thiaw a potential replacement
Reports linking the Hammers with AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw, meanwhile, appear to suggest that plans to bring in a long-term replacement are already underway. Thiaw, over a decade Ogbonna’s junior, has impressed at the San Siro but West Ham are ready to test the Rossoneri’s resolve with a January bid in the region of £17 million.
Calciomercato say that talks between the Europa Conference League holders and Thiaw’s representatives have begun..
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