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Far Cough 9:47 Fri Jan 26
Joao Mario

OS

West Ham United sign Portugal star Joao Mario on loan

West Ham United are delighted to confirm the signing of Portugal international Joao Mario on loan until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old attacking midfielder, who arrives in east London from Italian Serie A club Inter Milan, is a talented and skilful player capable of creating and scoring goals.

Having received international clearance on Friday, he trained with his new teammates and has been named in David Moyes’ squad for Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup fourth-round tie at Wigan Athletic.

Capped 31 times, Joao Mario appeared in all seven matches as Portugal won UEFA Euro 2016, and the Porto-born star cannot wait to show his worth in a Claret and Blue shirt.



“I am really happy to be here,” said the new No18. “It’s a really amazing experience to join this amazing team and I am just glad to be here.

“It was a fast move. I have spoken with everyone around the team and, for me, it is exciting to play in the Premier League. I spoke with the coach and for me, I am really happy to be training for an amazing coach, also.”

The Hammers’ first January signing revealed that Portugal teammate Jose Fonte had phoned and texted him on more than one occasion, encouraging him to swap Milan for London.

“Jose explained to me a little more about the Club and also the song we have, I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles and that, of course, it was really important for me to join West Ham!

“It’s a really historic Club with an amazing stadium and amazing players. I am just trying to know a little bit more about the Club every day and now I have some time to know more.”

Born in Porto, Joao Mario was just eleven when he moved to Lisbon to join Sporting Lisbon, making his first-team debut in a UEFA Europa League tie against Lazio at 18 in December 2011.

After a season on loan at Vitoria Setubal and another in Sporting’s B team, the midfielder established himself in the first team for the 2014/15 campaign, scoring seven goals and assisting five more in 44 appearances and playing against the likes of Chelsea and Schalke 04 in the UEFA Champions League.

A senior international debut arrived in France in October 2014, followed by a competitive debut in a Euro 2016 qualifier in Denmark later the same month.

Joao Mario’s 2015/16 season was even more impressive, as he chalked up eleven assists and six goals as Sporting went within two points of winning their first Portuguese championship since 2002.

November 2015 also saw him become a regular for Portugal, featuring in all seven Euro 2016 warm-up matches. He then started six of his country’s seven games at the tournament, playing all 120 minutes of the historic victory over France in the final.

Those performances saw Inter Milan pay a reported £38.4m to take him to Milan, making him the most expensive Portuguese player ever sold by a Portuguese club.

After featuring 33 times last season, Joao Mario has featured 14 times in Serie A this season, recording five assists, and will now bring his creative flair to the Premier League.

Alex V 3:58 Thu May 31
Re: Joao Mario

Bernie 1:23 Thu May 31

Let's be honest, somebody does that at every single club. It's not unusual.

Bernie 1:23 Thu May 31
Re: Joao Mario

Sullivan doesnt do scouting, but what he does do is deals with arsehole scouts that offer him various shit players, Sullivan will then offer these players to the manager if he thinks they're well good.

El Scorchio 12:09 Thu May 31
Re: Joao Mario

Sakho was allegedly one of Sullivan's famous 'punts'.

Fair play to him with that one. It came off really well.

scott_d 3:28 Wed May 30
Re: Joao Mario

I can't believe that Sullivan actually does any scouting

I expect there are signings he would have wanted purely on reputation such as Hernandez, Hart, maybe Zabaleta?

Then there are players he might have seen us face in the PL such as Fonte, Ayew, Arnie that he liked.

But I'm not convinced that he had even heard of the likes of Sakho, Payet, Fernandez, Masuaku and even the potential big money loan signings like Zaza and Mario.

Let's hope this is the case and Pellers new team are better than the previous goons.

Swiss. 2:16 Wed May 30
Re: Joao Mario

Sullivan was also responsible for our marquee signing Enner Valencia.

Alex V 3:41 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

>>> Alex...Didn't Sulli take the credit for buying Sakho when he was banging goals in

He did. I'm not suggesting Sullivan hasn't brought potential signings to the table, or pushed for certain options at times. The club needed and arguably still needs someone in that role. My argument was and is that it was problematic if it was him.

There's a gulf between that view and a conspiracy theory where every player is basically Sullivan's choice and the managers are basically a patsy faking their control while Sulli wields ultimate power in the shadows. It's just not true - the reality is more complex.

Darby_ 3:37 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

Don’t waste your life arguing with Alex. The bloke is permanently off with the fairies.

Alex V 3:37 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

>>> Ah, so Alex you’re attacking a conspiracy theory you have created yourself.

No idea what that means.

But it's true I did criticise Sullivan soon after he bought the club for his meddling in transfers. Many years before it became the basis for the current absurd narratives. I do believe it's a problem, I've never disputed that.

charleyfarley 3:34 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

Alex...Didn't Sulli take the credit for buying Sakho when he was banging goals in

Takashi Miike 3:32 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

Hammer and Pickle 3:32 Tue May 29

Hammer and Pickle 3:32 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

Ah, so Alex you’re attacking a conspiracy theory you have created yourself.

Do carry on.

Alex V 3:16 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

>>> fuck off with the conspiracy theory crap when you offer very little substance yourself

You don't have to believe my interpretation of events. I make no assumptions based on an invented narrative. I'm not a fan of making any firm conclusions on people based on rumour. I only reject the false narrative because I don't see a lot of evidence to support it - I think it's simply very convenient for angry fans to believe it.

Alex V 3:13 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

Hammer and Pickle 3:03 Tue May 29

Yes it's a conspiracy theory. A narrative that doesn't really have any evidence to support it, created to basically attack Sullivan by any means necessary.

The basic point, that Sullivan may have had too much say in transfers, does have some merit imo. Unfortunately it has snowballed into some absurd narrative where everything the club does was his decision alone. Apart from the signings that really worked, for which he is given little or no credit.

Takashi Miike 3:11 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

secretly? the carvahlo charade/fiasco/debacle is proof the midgets tiny little hands are all over every transfer deal. please fuck off with the conspiracy theory crap when you offer very little substance yourself

Hammer and Pickle 3:03 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

Conspiracy theory?

Are you on drugs?

Alex V 2:26 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

>>> tell us who did, you have all the answers

Well it seems to me that ultimately Moyes did. That's the impression I've got from following the info that comes out of the club. But I could be wrong and I'm interested if anybody thinks they know otherwise. But I suspect that view is just tied into the general conspiracy theory about how Sullivan secretly makes all the decisions on transfers.

cornish 2:26 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

Mario has grown into the premier with each game he is adapting very quickly,he will be worth a lot of money in the future.

w4hammer 2:23 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

hes worth about £15M - i actually think he will grow into a decent player however he's way too lightweight for the PL - so in summary yes, but as an also as opposed to the main man.

cheers

Eerie Descent 2:16 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

£25mil is going to be a hefty chunk of our budget.

I am fucking astounded that many seem to want to spunk it on a fella who had a couple of decent games in 4 months.

Takashi Miike 2:12 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

tell us who did, you have all the answers

Alex V 2:10 Tue May 29
Re: Joao Mario

Did Sullivan buy Hugill?

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