Angelo Ogbonna has opened up on how the West Ham United side see Gianluca Scamacca after David Moyes signed the Italy forward from Serie A outfit Sassuolo in a £30.5m transfer.
Angelo Ogbonna eyes mentor role to Gianluca Scamacca at West Ham
Angelo Ogbonna has told Sky Italia that he hopes to help Gianluca Scamacca settle at West Ham United. David Moyes signed the striker from Sassuolo in July to improve his attacking options, having only had Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen at the London Stadium before.
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Moyes elected against signing a replacement for Sebastien Haller when West Ham sold the Ivory Coast forward to Ajax in January 2021. Three windows would ultimately come and go without a forward arriving in east London, but the Scot’s search ended in Emilia-Romagna.
Opting against purchasing a striker in two January windows and last summer arguably cost West Ham in the Premier League last season. The Irons could only end the term in seventh to qualify for the Europa Conference League, whilst reaching the Europa League semi-final.
Antonio persistently led the Hammers’ charge with 36 appearances through the top-flight campaign. But while the 32-year-old also offered 10 goals and eight assists, he failed to hit the back of the net for 14 games between January 2 and May 7, of which they won in five.
Scamacca will now keep Antonio honest and push the Jamaica international for his starting presence in West Ham’s frontline. The seven-cap Italy international – who made his Azzurri debut last September – arrived in east London after scoring 16 goals in 36 Serie A outings.
Angelo Ogbonna opens up on London Stadium perception of summer signing
Ogbonna hopes he can now help Scamacca settle into life with West Ham after signing for the Premier League side from Sassuolo. But the Italian defender notes the London Stadium dressing room already has a strong affection for his potential in the claret-and-blue jersey.
“It was easy for me to enter West Ham, I had Paolo Di Canio as a mentor,” Ogbonna said. “Maybe today I could have this role for Scamacca. After a long time, it can help to have another Italian teammate.
“I hope to help him. Everyone knows how interesting he is, what talent Gianluca has. For him, he is a springboard in such a competitive league. He was welcomed in the best way: West Ham is a family.”
Ogbonna is possibly facing a different sort of campaign this season as he returns from an eight month lay-off. The centre-half last featured in November as he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during West Ham’s win over Liverpool that would end his season.
West Ham would send Ogbonna for surgery following his injury, while his place in Moyes’ pecking order has now regressed. Nayef Aguerd was set to start the new campaign as Kurt Zouma’s partner after leaving Stade Rennes for £30m, but has since needed ankle surgery.
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