Simone Zaza says he failed to adapt to life at West Ham
Friday 3 February 2017 10:12, UK
Simone Zaza has claimed his unsuccessful loan spell with West Ham was down to a failure to adapt to life in England.
The Italy forward joined the Hammers on a season-long loan from Juventus in August, but endured a terrible time and failed to score in 11 appearances for the club.
West Ham agreed to cut Zaza's spell at the London Stadium short in January, enabling the 25-year-old to join La Liga side Valencia on loan for the remainder of the season.
"I didn't feel great in so many ways: environment, culture, training, nutrition," Zaza told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I'm not being a victim, I know that plying your trade as a footballer allows you to earn so much.
"I'm just trying to explain the causes of my failure. I knew I'd find some difficulties, but I did not think there could be so many. I do not blame anyone: 99 per cent of it's my fault because I was not able to adapt.
"I was sure that I'd make it, but it was probably because I'm set in my ways. I'm attached to my habits, my things, my points of reference otherwise I'm lost and I can't find myself.
"I was not good physically. I had been through pre-season with Juventus so I was okay. When I got there I found a different method of training: you exercise less, sometimes the sessions last 40 minutes and almost immediately I didn't feel good.
"I need to train more, for someone to kick my ass. The problem is that on Sunday other people went to a thousand percent. Not me. I wanted to do things that come naturally when I'm playing well and I could not do them. And I became crazy.
"It was not easy. Be left in a sense of being a loser bothers me. It will remain a blot on the landscape that this story that did not go as I hoped."
A clause in the loan agreement meant West Ham would have had to sign Zaza permanently for £17m if he played 14 matches for the club.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic opted against the deal following the return of forward Andy Carroll to form and fitness in December, leaving Zaza free to join Valencia where he has since appeared twice but is yet to score.
"Already in early October I received calls from several teams. And I said no because I wanted to do well in London," Zaza added.
"Up until West Ham gave me the news that they wouldn't buy me. Then I started to listen to offers. After what I'd been through in England I was afraid to change country again, I preferred to return to Italy, but it was very complicated.
"Valencia was always been the team I wanted most, and then there was [Cesare] Prandelli. I showed interest and it took time. I wanted to know how they live here. Among others I heard from Nicola Sansone, who lives here."
