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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.

ironsofcanada 9:50 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

Good

Definitely need him.

Hopefully, he loves us and we love him (because of how he plays) and there is money to keep him.

Hermit Road 10:07 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

Good move this.

stoneman 10:08 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

Reading between the lines I sense that Moyes might not have been the driving force in this transfer

stoneman 10:08 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

Reading between the lines I sense that Moyes might not have been the driving force in this transfer

ironsofcanada 10:12 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

stoneman 10:08 Fri Jan 26

Why?

I could be wrong but he seems so far to have been honest in his assessment of players in the media. He hasn't sugarcoated it and so far it has worked, motivation-wise.

Eerie Descent 10:13 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

I'm really not getting the best vibes about this, but now he's here, time to get behind him and hope to fuck he's up for it.

ludo21 10:18 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

Can he play tomorrow?

HairyHammer 10:20 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

Lets hope this is a positive player for West ham he looks a very decent passer of the ball which should help our strikers he is good when running with the ball through the middle toward the goal and looks strong although the premiership will not allow him the comfort he had in some of the clips.
Sadly looks awful at scoring hope that improves,

-[Rasta]- 10:23 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

could be a great signing, has pace and can pass. one more please.

ludo21 10:26 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

Answered my own question... unavailable for Cup according to Sky.

Eggbert Nobacon 10:27 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

Reply ludo21 10:18 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham
Can he play tomorrow?

if signed by 12 he can, but I doubt we'll see him til Tuessday


Hoping Hacksabamovich finally gets another start tomorrow myself, looked every very good v Bolton

Eggbert Nobacon 10:28 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

or not then lol

gph 10:30 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

Welcome, Super Mario.

My stopcock needs replacing...

Pervy McBeer 10:31 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

Not sure i agree with telling the world that you're already concerned about a player you've just brought in. Especially if it was your idea. I can see why some people think he may not have been the driving force behind the deal.

Every player comes with an edge of concern, no one is a guarantee and getting used to the Prem is always going to be tough for foreigners who haven't experience it before, but surely part of the player assessment has to be whether you think they can handle it or not?

Sven Roeder 10:33 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

Moyes hardly giving a ringing endorsement
Presumably he preferred one of the options that costs a fee

Silly boy

ironsofcanada 10:34 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

Was still taking some set pieces (corners at least) for Inter, even when he was only on for a handful of minutes.

So he should be able to replace Lanzini there in the short term.

Infidel 10:35 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

As I have been saying on here for a while, Moyes has set us up in a completely different way to anything we have seen before, and his system needs a certain type of player.

Mario is a player who fits the Moyes system perfectly - this is a good signing, on paper at least.

When everyone is fit Moyes will play a front three (Antonio, Lanz, Arnie) who like to run at opponents, are fast and can score goals. That makes us a threat all of the time, even when we are defending deep. We can hit opponents on the break any time.

These three are supported by Arthur and Zaba on the wings - two players who also like to run at opponents. You can see where this is going and much as I disagree with the appointment of Moyes I have respect for what he is trying to do.

But we are short of cover for our five first choice attacking players. We saw last week that Kouyate was pushed forward to play in Antonio's role - and that just isn't his game. He tried a few lung busting runs with the ball at his feet but he looked uncomfortable.

As always Chekhou just does what he's asked to do - I think the only position he hasn't played is goalkeeper.

With all the injuries we have Chicha will be asked to step up and play in one of the front three positions - and that isn't his game either. He's a poacher, a fox in the box as they used to be called.

Chicha sadly is surplus to requirements in Moyes' system. So is Carroll. So is Ayew. Maybe these players can be assembled into a Plan B when the tactics require it but they don't fit the mould of the player Moyes is looking for.

Mario does. Whether he has the ability or not we are about to find out. We all remember the likes of Faubert and Jarvis, who came with high hopes and turned out to be way below the standard required. Fingers crossed that the homework on this fella is more robust.

dicksie3 10:37 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

"Hopefully, he loves us and we love him (because of how he plays) and there is money to keep him."

Money to keep him?!

Dream on. That pair of pervy old fuck cunt lying cheapskate wankers would never cough-up the sort of money that would be needed to sign him if he does well for us.

They'd probably get into another slagging match with Inter purely because they're too tight to pay the dough but they'll try and put spin on it like the asking price changing at the last moment blah blah blah.

White Pony 10:40 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

I'd just like to say I know next to nothing about this player and can't even be bothered to look at his YouTube video.

One McAvennieeeeee 10:41 Fri Jan 26
Re: Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham

Read the expert Infidel's post, Pony son?

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