Simone Zaza’s father says Italy star never wanted West Ham move

Follow us on Google Discover

The striker’s father and agent has issued a damning statement on his failed spell in England.

With West Ham United flop Simone Zaza looking certain to leave the London Stadium this month, his father and agent has told JuveNews that the on-loan Juventus man never wanted the move to England.

Zaza was supposed to be the Hammers’ marquee attacking signing in the summer, the man who finally brought a change in fortunes for the club’s strikers, who have struggle desperately for goals over the past few years.

However, in stark contrast to those hopes, the Italian international has bombed at the London Stadium, failing to register either a goal or an assist in 11 appearances for the club.

Completely frozen out of the team since the EFL Cup defeat to Manchester United at the end of November, the 25-year-old is destined for the exit door and is likely to soon be forgotten among Irons fans.

Before his exit, however, his father and agent Antonio told twisted the knife one more time by alleging that Zaza never wanted a move to West Ham and should have stayed in Italy.

Antonio Zaza told JuveNews: “We don’t know anything yet, we still have no official news. Simone has a great desire to return to play in Italian football, and we have to choose the most suitable destination for him and for Juventus.

“He won’t stay at Juventus, because that would be counter-productive. For them, but especially for us because he wouldn’t find much space. Is he disappointed that Juve didn’t trust him? Look, don’t make me answer that… it’s too delicate a question.

“Now we’re trying to bring Simone back to Italy because he loves this country. We didn’t choose West Ham. No-one forced us, but Simone never wanted to go abroad, he loves Italy and Serie A. A series of circumstances led to him going to the Premier League… Now he’s gone and we look to the future.”

That will not go down too well with West Ham fans, who largely just want to see the back of Zaza and in all likelihood are wishing that the deal never happened in the first place.

Zaza had been heavily linked with a move to La Liga side Valencia over the last couple of months, but the resignation of their former Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli looks to have scuppered that deal.