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‘Sad’: Mark Noble admits ‘everyone was worried’ when player arrived at West Ham in 2017

Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
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Mark Noble has been speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast about a range of talking points involving his beloved West Ham.

One thing that came up in conversation was the topic of Marko Arnautovic.

The Austrian arrived at West Ham in 2017 for £20 million, carrying the reputation of a bad boy with him.

José Mourinho claimed Arnautovic had the ‘attitude of a child’ while coaching him at Inter Milan.

Steve McClaren also said that the forward was the craziest player he had even managed while the pair were at FC Twente.

However, Noble admits that he had no issues with Arnautovic, despite everyone at West Ham feeling worried before he arrived.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

The 34-year-old said: “Everyone was worried about him when he came. What a funny, funny man though. What a player when he turned it on, some days in training, you couldn’t get close to the fella. I was really sad to see him go.”

Arnautovic stained his relationship with the Irons fanbase when handing in a transfer request back in July 2019, as the Independent covered.

However, Noble’s comments will perhaps enable supporters to see him in a different light.

Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images

Interestingly, the Hammers could actually re-sign their former No.7.

If they did, it would be one of the most dramatic moves of the window.

According to Tutto Mercato Web, West Ham – along with Crystal Palace – are interested in signing the 32-year-old this summer.

If Arnautovic does return to east London, he will hopefully receive a not-so-toxic reception after Noble revealed how the squad feels about him.