Premier League

Andy Carroll explains what surprised him most about controversial new teammate Samir Nasri at West Ham

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Some West Ham United fans were concerned about Samir Nasri’s attitude before he signed.

When it was first announced that West Ham were looking to sign Nasri it is fair to say the reaction was mixed.

The playmaker, who won the Premier League title with Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City, was banned from football for a doping offence and his career looked to be in ruins.

But his relationship with Pellegrini and West Ham’s Premier League-worst injury list has offered the former France star a shot at redemption.

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Hammers fans were concerned over Nasri

Many supporters felt Nasri was finished at the top level. The Hammers were also been trolled by rival fans over a signing they feel is typical of the East Londoners.

Others are worried about Nasri’s attitude having made the front pages as often as the back pages over his career.

Whether it was kicking up a stink to get a move from Arsenal to Man City. Rows at international level which cost him his France place. Problems in his personal life. Getting sent off for Sevilla in the Champions League or his doping ban. The list was pretty damning.

Then there were reports Nasri turned up for his training trial with the Hammers totally out of shape (The Mirror).

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Carroll offers honest insight

It seems those reports had a semblance of truth if comments from Andy Carroll are anything to go by.

But fans will be heartened after the big striker told whufc.com what surprised him most about Nasri since he joined the club.

“I think you could see Samir was not fit at all when he first started training,” Carroll told the club’s official website.

“But he’s been working, really, really hard. And you knew straight away his technical ability hadn’t gone and it will never go and he’s really, really good on the ball.”

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New Nasri the deal of the decade?

Nasri himself has shown a new level of maturity and humility with his own comments since joining the Hammers.

He revealed he cried thinking his career was over. And he is determined to make up for lost time in East London.

As a result West Ham would only benefit.

And fans will be hoping he can prove to be one of the bargains of recent seasons.