Nikola Vlasic is making a ‘spectacular’ impact in Serie A after leaving Premier League outfit West Ham United on loan, Torino president Urbano Cairo tells DAZN, via Calciomercato.
Perhaps it’s just not meant to be.
Vlasic, after struggling at Everton, established himself as arguably the finest attacking midfielder on Russian soil during three outstanding seasons at CSKA Moscow. Now, following another underwhelming spell in England, Vlasic is back to his barnstorming best in Turin.
The Croatia international scored just once in 31 games for West Ham across 2021/22. Now, after hitting the winner against Lecce, that very same player has now found the net in three straight Serie A matches; dragging Torino up to sixth and just three points adrift of table-topping Atalanta.
Nikola Vlasic shining in Serie A after West Ham United exit
“Vlasic is a very strong player,” Cairo says of the West Ham loanee.
“He has already scored three goals. I didn’t know him. (His arrival) is all thanks to (sporting director Davide) Vagnati and (head coach Ivan) Juric, who knew him very well.
“He has great quality and intelligence. Spectacular.”
There was nothing particularly ‘spectacular’ about the way Vlasic opened the scoring against Lecce on Monday night. But David Moyes may be wondering why the £25 million signing did not showcase such a ruthless streak in claret-and-blue; Vlasic carving through the visiting defence before finishing with far more composure than you’d expect from a man who’s end product left a lot to be desired at the London Stadium.
“A strong player. An athlete, a mentality player; technical, dangerous, scores with both feet,” adds Torino coach Matteo Paro, rattling off Vlasic’s many attributes.
“He always trains to the maximum and always raises his level. For him, scoring is important.”
On current form, that reported £12 million option-to-buy clause looks like a bargain. Though it certainly wouldn’t be the best look for West Ham; paying £25 million for a player, fail to get the best out of him, watch him thrive on loan and then sell for a 50 per cent loss.
“It was important Arthur (Masuaku) left (for Besiktas). We wanted to get him more playing time, the same with Vlasic. We couldn’t guarantee to find a position (for him),” Moyes explained in August.
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