The Hammers’ new signing is well aware of Payet’s quality but insists there is more to the team than just the French star.
New West Ham United signing Sofiane Feghouli has told the club’s official website that the Hammers are bigger than just French star Dimitri Payet.
Feghouli became the club’s second major signing of the summer after the addition of Havard Nordtveit when he joined on a free transfer from Spanish side Valencia last week.
The Algerian midfielder, along with Nordtveit, will add even more strength and depth to a midfield which already includes the likes of Cheikhou Kouyate, Manuel Lanzini, Mark Noble, and Pedro Obiang.
However, it is French international Payet who was singled out by Feghouli as perhaps the key man at the Olympic Stadium after a superb debut season in England.
Payet racked up 12 goals and 12 assists in all competitions for the Hammers last term and his dazzling form earned him a PFA Player of the Year nomination.
The 29-year-old, who is currently starring for France at Euro 2016, was undoubtedly the jewel in West Ham’s crown, but Feghouli insists that the club are not purely dependent on his ability.
Feghouli told the club’s website: “First of all, what he did last season was very good, but West Ham is not only Dimitri Payet. There is a good team in place, although of course, he is a high-quality player. This is an added value.”
West Ham’s team spirit and unity definitely played a large role in their relative success last season, with captain Noble the figurehead of a well-drilled team unit under Slaven Bilic.
However, no matter what Feghouli says, Payet is surely the man with whom the Algerian must be relishing competing and playing alongside in midfield in London next term.
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