Torino president Urbano Cairo is delighted to finally get a deal over the line for the ‘special’ Nikola Vlasic as the West Ham United misfit finally gets his escape from the Premier League.
It doesn’t exactly reflect well on the West Ham that, after just six Premier League starts in two years, Nikola Vlasic leaves the London Stadium for around £15 million less than they paid for him in the first place.
But, still, better to cash in than keep hold of a player who was destined to spend the 2023/24 campaign gathering dust on the bench.
Vlasic got his wish earlier this week; returning to Torino on a permanent basis after last season’s impressive loan spell. The one-time Everton youngster had made no secret of his desire to stay in Italy, and confirmation that West Ham had finally accepted Torino’s offer at the third time of asking came as a major relief not only to the player himself but also to the Granata bosses.
West Ham sell Nikola Vlasic to Torino
“The great thing is that Vlasic also cared a lot about Toro. And the fact that he resisted other opportunities to return to Toro makes me happy,” president Cairo tells Tuttomercatoweb.
“In addition to being a strong player, he is a special boy.”
Vlasic, who struck up an excellent relationship with Torino manager and fellow Croatian Ivan Juric last term, scored five goals and set up eight more for the Granata in 2022/23.
“We have made an important investment for Vlasic to complete our attack,” Cairo adds. “I’m glad he come back to us.”
Vlasic is not the only West Ham misfit to secure a move to Italy this week. Gianluca Scamacca, after only three league goals in an injury-hit Hammers spell, joins Atalanta as a replacement for Manchester United’s new £64 million hitman Rasmus Hojlund.
Scamacca scored on his La Dea debut in Thursday’s 3-0 friendly win over Pergolettese.
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