Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier has questioned Jose Fonte’s motives ahead of his return to St Mary’s with new club West Ham United.
The Hammers completed the signing of the Saints hero for £8m to enable Angelo Ogbonna to have season-ending knee surgery on a long-standing injury problem.
The former Southampton captain and European Championship winner with Portugal had reportedly asked to leave the club in the first week of the transfer window.
It is a claim he later denied and he told talkSPORT he was always a consumate professional during his time at the club.
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Fonte got his Hammers career off to the worst possible start as he looked off the pace and gave away a penalty in a 4-0 humbling at the hands of Manchester City on his debut in midweek.
And ahead of his return to face his old club, Fonte told talkSPORT his conscience was clear.
“After the Euros, there was a lot of interest and offers on the table and we discussed the possibility of allowing me to leave but an official transfer request in January – that did not happen. I did not make an official transfer request,” he told Jim White.
“I enjoyed my time there but, for one reason or another, it happened and I am just happy that West Ham believed in me.”
Saints legend Matt Le Tissier
But ahead of his return to the club he served with such distinction, Saints legend Le Tissier took to Twitter to question the 33-year-old’s motives.
“Heard Jose Fonte on talkSPORT doing his best to receive a warm welcome at St Marys on Saturday #alternativefacts,” Le Tissier posted on Twitter.
“He certainly did (give his all for the club). Very professional on the pitch. Didn’t behave like a captain this season though.”
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West Ham will fancy their chances against a Southampton side shorn of Fonte and star defender Virgil van Dijk.
But if Wednesday’s performance against Man City is anything to go by this could be a game for the forwards at St Marys.
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