Adama Traore ban revealed at West Ham by Nuno Espirito Santo
Nuno Espirito Santo has banned Adama Traore from lifting weights at West Ham’s training ground.
The muscular winger swapped Fulham for West Ham on a deal until the end of the season in January, with Traore reuniting with old Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo at Rush Green.
The 30-year-old is yet to start a Premier League game for the London Stadium outfit but has made substitute appearances against Chelsea, Burnley, Manchester United and Liverpool.
The £2million signing hasn’t made a huge impact so far, with his most telling moment, arguably, coming away at Chelsea, when he threw Marc Cucurella to the ground, before taking on Joao Pedro in a clip that has since gone viral.
However, Nuno still speaks highly of the Spanish wideman and thinks he can have a positive influence in the remainder of the season, but doesn’t want him pumping more iron in the coming weeks.
Nuno Espirito Santo applauds ‘unique’ Adama Traore
Ahead of West Ham’s trip to Fulham on Wednesday, Nuno said in his pre-match presser on Monday that Traore needs to “avoid the gym”.
The former Nottingham Forest boss admitted the winger’s muscles are “incredible”, but for the remaining months of the campaign, he needs to focus on other areas of his game.
He said: “It’s incredible (his muscles), it’s genetics. His genetics have been like this for some time now, and he should avoid the gym. I’ve told him to stay out of the gym.
“It’s one of the things that I think he needs to realise. It’s enough weight that he carries. He’ll do prevention work (in the gym), but he’s not in there lifting weights.”
Traore’s sole start for West Ham so far came in an FA Cup fourth-round win over League One side Burton Albion in February.
In-form winger Crysencio Summerville and club captain Jarrod Bowen are ahead of him in the pecking order, but despite his lack of minutes, Nuno is happy with what he has seen so far.
He added, “Traore’s unique. There’s not many players in world football with his ability, pace and skills in 1v1 situations. He’s a talent that we have to take advantage of, but it will take time. He has to adapt.
“He has to understand many things inside of the dynamic of the team. But he’s proven, not only at Wolves, he’s proven in England in the Spain squad not long ago. So we’re talking about a high-level player.”
How are West Ham’s January signings faring?
In the winter transfer window, West Ham spent nearly £50m on the likes of Pablo Felipe, Taty Castellanos, Axel Disasi, Keiber Lamadrid and Traore.
Pablo is currently out with a calf injury, and Lamadrid has only featured in the FA Cup extra-time victory over Burton on 14 February.
But defender Disasi and forward Castellanos have certainly had a positive impact on the team, with the former tightening up West Ham’s defence – bar against Liverpool – and the ex-Lazio man scoring three times so far.
Despite those shoots of positivity, though, they are still in the relegation zone.
Since a 2-1 loss at home to Forest on 6 January, there has been a noticeable uptick in form from West Ham, but they are still in the bottom three.
A win away at Fulham on Wednesday, coupled with a Forest defeat at high-flying Manchester City on the same night, would lift Nuno’s side out of the drop zone.
And if they are to pull off the great escape, they will need Traore, Castellanos, and more to be at their very best.
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