Video footage has emerged online which appears to show there are no problems between Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Pellegrini behind the scenes at West Ham United.
Arnautovic was linked with a move to China in January and West Ham United have not been the same since.
When Arnautovic deemed himself ‘not in the right frame of mind’ to play away at Bournemouth, he killed his relationship with a large section of Hammers fans.
According to the likes of The Telegraph West Ham rejected a £35million bid for the Austrian ‘out of hand’.
The Hammers hierarchy wanted nearer £50 million.
In the end Arnautovic ended up not only staying but signing an improved deal – despite his agent and brother Danijel telling the world he wanted out (talkSPORT).
More money more problems
That only served to enrage fans further as did the clumsy way it was announced. The new contract was trumpeted moments after West Ham crashed out of the most wide open FA Cup in decades. At the hands of League Two-bound AFC Wimbledon no less.
Further salt was added to the wound when it emerged that had denied fans a mouth-watering tie against bitter rivals Millwall in the next round – full story here.
It has lumbered Pellegrini with a player whose heart does not seem to be in it.
A player that has barely featured since and who has been ineffectual when he has.
Pellegrini and co admitted Arnautovic has been distraction
Pellegrini, his captain Mark Noble and veteran Pablo Zabaleta have all publicly admitted the Arnautovic saga caused issues in the West Ham dressing room.
Indeed in two recent post match press conferences Pellegrini has offered a spiky response when asked about Arnautovic stating: “I don’t want to talk about him.”
But video footage from West Ham’s Spanish training camp this week suggests all is well again behind the scenes.
The Hammers posted some highlights from their training sessions on YouTube.
Video footage suggests air has been cleared
And it showed Arnautovic looking in fine form. Not only on the pitch but in an exchange between him and manager Pellegrini.
Arnautovic expertly finishes a shooting drill (27 seconds in). He then turns to his boss in an exchange that left both of them smiling.
Perhaps the Austrian was cheekily asking the question whether that was good enough to get back in the starting line-up for Fulham next weekend after he was dropped in favour of Javier Hernandez against Crystal Palace.
Meanwhile, West Ham skipper Noble has moved to reassure angry supporters that Arnie is not causing problems behind the scenes.
“Up to now we’ve not been consistent enough,” Noble told whufc.com.
“I do believe that will improve because the transfer window is closed now and hopefully players who could have departed know they’re going to be here now.
“One of the other players (linked with a move away) was Marko Arnautovic, but he’s been as good as gold.
“Obviously, January hasn’t been great for him, because he’s been injured and we had the China stories. But I’m hoping now we will see the best of him for the final three months of the season.”
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