Pablo Fornals uses Manchester United example in honest West Ham transfer admission

Pablo Fornals has admitted West Ham United is the “club I love”, and that there is “no chance” he will join another English club after leaving the London Stadium.

The midfielder, speaking candidly to Roshane Thomas of The Athletic [9 October], swapped East London for Real Betis back in January.

He explained he would really struggle to play against his former club, with whom he spent four-and-a-half years.

“I had interest from another Premier League team, but there’s no way I could join another club in England,” Fornals explained.

“It would feel weird playing against the club I love. It’s easier to live in London than other European countries, but if it’s not West Ham then there’s no chance.

“It could be Manchester City, or Manchester United, I can’t do it. I can’t picture myself scoring or celebrating against West Ham.”

Pablo Fornals fondly remembers West Ham days

With plenty having come and gone, there is a category of players that Hammers fans will remember with a smile, and Fornals is certainly one of them.

Joining his first English club at the age of 23, the six-cap Spaniard became a regular straight away and spent almost his entire Irons career as a mainstay in the midfield, with 23 goals in over 200 appearances until falling down the pecking order eventually under David Moyes.

The club has clearly got under his skin for life, as he even describes himself as a “cockney”, alongside his admission that he could never see himself at another English club.

London Stadium, West Ham
Credit: Imago

Fornals, who has three goals in 23 games so far for his third LaLiga club, is no doubt watching his old team from the continent and he will always be a welcome visitor back at the London Stadium.

Following a busy summer, there are now plenty in claret and blue already who never crossed paths with Fornals, but he would hand them plenty of warm advice all the same – much like he did for compatriot Carlos Soler before his switch to the English capital.

In other West Ham news, Jack Grealish mentions a Hammers star when talking about England.

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