Lucas Perez reportedly refused to warm up when asked by West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini on Sunday.
Lucas Perez has taken to Twitter to explain the truth behind rumours suggesting that the Spanish striker refused to warm up when asked by West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini on Sunday – and Hammers fans have accepted his statement.
The 30-year-old was accused of refusing to warm up after being named on the bench against Everton on Sunday afternoon, after Manuel Pellegrini had asked for him to get ready to come on.
Signed by West Ham in the summer from Arsenal, Perez has only managed two substitute appearances for the east Londoners in the Premier League and may be forgiven for cutting a slightly frustrated figure.
But his refusal to warm up angered fans – only for the striker to then take to Twitter on Monday to explain that he did not say no to Pellegrini, only for the Chilean boss to bring Michail Antonio on instead – as he was already warmed up.
Perez joined West Ham after failing to break his way into Arsenal’s side, instead moving to Deportivo La Coruna on loan for the 2017-18 season. In 21 games with the Gunners, he scored seven goals and created five assists.
Depending on the severity of Marko Arnautovic’s injury, Perez could be given a chance to spearhead West Ham’s attack against Chelsea on Sunday at the London Stadium.
West Ham fans reacted on Twitter to Perez’s statement, with the majority of fans accepting his reasoning for not coming on and understanding that the rumours were in fact untrue.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
