West Ham veteran admits this is his final season in English football
West Ham United right back Pablo Zabaleta has had a long and distinguished career, with the majority of it taking place in England.
The 35-year-old has been plying his trade in Blighty since 2008, making it 12 years of ferocious competitiveness and dedication from the Argentine.
The bulk of that time, nine years, was spent with Manchester City, where he won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups.
Since the summer of 2017, though, he has represented the Hammers. He’s not always been great – he’s clearly in the closing stages of his career – but he’s always tried his best.
Now, the veteran defender has spoken about what the future holds for him moving forward.
“I have said that this will be my final season in English football, so these last 13 games will all be special experiences for me, as I have been here for 12 years and have so many great memories,” he told West Ham’s official website.
“We go to Man City on Wednesday night and it will be my third visit with West Ham since I left them in 2017. Personally, I got great receptions from both sets of fans and I am looking forward to going back there one final time and, if I get a chance to play, I will do my best and then say thank you to the fans after the final whistle.
“I am a West Ham player now, of course, and I am looking for us to win the game, but I will always have a lot of love and respect for that club, as everyone knows.”
How big a loss will Zabaleta be to English football?
It will be a sad day when the right back moves on from these shores. He’s truly been an excellent player and an exemplary example to young footballers across the country.
The Argentine has never been the most naturally gifted player – he’s certainly no Trent Alexander-Arnold – but he has had a long career at the top level because he worked hard to maximise every bit of ability he did have.
In that respect he’s somewhat similar to another right back who once plied his trade in Manchester: Gary Neville.
Where Zabaleta goes next is anyone’s guess but, wherever it is, they’ll be getting a top professional.
In other West Ham news, David Moyes has been speaking about Jarrod Bowen and how he’s looked in training.