World Cup winner says former Premier League maestro convinced him to sign for West Ham

Follow us on Google Discover

World Cup winner Alvaro Arbeloa has revealed that he was persuaded to join West Ham United on deadline day by Luke Modric.

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic

The Hammers brought in no fewer than 13 players over the summer as Slaven Bilic reshaped his squad.

Most of the club’s business had been done well ahead of the much-hyped transfer deadline day on Wednesday.

But with the sensitive issue of Bilic’s insistence on using Michail Antonio at right back still rumbling on Hammers co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold brought in one signing on deadline day in the shape of Spain’s World Cup winning defender Alvaro Arbeloa.

Former Real Madrid and Liverpool favourite Alvaro Arbeloa

World Cup winner solves problem position

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid right back has joined the East Londoners on a one-year deal with a view to providing the team and West Ham’s long term player for that position, Sam Byram, with some invaluable experience.

There was interest from La Liga and Serie A in the full back’s service.

But Arbeloa told the club’s official website that he was convinced West Ham was the right move for him by none other than former Spurs hero Luka Modric, his former teammate at Real Madrid.

Modric celebrates Champions League win with Hammers new boy

Former Spurs hero Modric helped convince new boy

The Croatian midfield gem burst onto the international scene under the guidance of Bilic and was well placed to offer Arbeloa advice.

“Slaven wants to see me training as soon as possible,” Arbeloa told whufc.com.

“I was talking with (Madrid midfielders and Croatia internationals) Luka Modric and Matteo Kovacic and they told me good things about the coach, so I want to work with him and hopefully I can learn a lot of things.”

West Ham United fans

Mixed reaction from fans but super fit star is a fans’ favourite

The move to bring in a 33-year-old has been met with mixed reaction from Hammers fans.

Some supporters thought they had seen the end of the days when West Ham offered ageing out of contract stars one last pay day.

But Arbeloa has always been a hugely popular figure with fans and teammates at his clubs and as someone who does triathlons for fun in his spare time is super fit too.

Liverpool were very reluctant to let him leave and the send off he received from the players at Madrid summed up how his colleagues felt about him.