Axel Disasi did not need introducing to Jean-Clair Todibo or Soungoutou Magassa when he joined his fellow Frenchman at West Ham United but, by his own admission, Mateus Fernandes is one who surprised him.
As one France international returns from suspension ahead of Saturday’s clash with AFC Bournemouth, another will look to keep his impressive start to life at the London Stadium going.
Axel Disasi’s form gives Nuno a Jean-Clair Todibo-shaped dilemma this weekend. Does the West Ham United boss stick with the Disasi/Mavropanos partnership only breached by a Benjamin Sesko 96th minute wondergoal against Manchester United? Or does Todibo come straight back in after a three-match ban?
Todibo’s return gives Nuno a problem…
Soungoutou Magassa appeared to waste his chance when a much-changed Hammers side edged past Burton Albion in the FA Cup. Although, with Freddie Potts replacing Todibo in the proverbial sin bin, Premier League minutes could soon be coming the way of a midfielder Axel Disasi knows from their time together at Monaco.
Speaking on the latest edition of the Ironcast podcast, Disasi admits that a couple of familiar faces have helped him settle in since arriving on loan from Chelsea.
As for Mateus Fernandes, the suspicions Disasi had of the Portugal Under-21 skipper in his Southampton days have been proven emphatically correct.
Axel Disasi is most surprised by Mateus Fernandes at West Ham United
Disasi was asked which of his new teammates have ‘surprised’ him the most. His response is one many will share in relation to West Ham’s £40 million summer signing.
Everyone knew this was a talented young player with plenty of potential. Fernandes was called the ‘ultimate midfielder’ by ex-Saints skipper Jo Tessem while still at a club who finished with a miserable points tally of 12 in 2024/25.
But it seems that very few realised exactly how good Mateus Fernandes really was.
“I would say maybe Mateus Fernandes [has surprised me the most],” Disasi admits.
“Even last year when he was playing at Southampton, I remember [thinking], ‘this player is good.’ Then, when I played against Burnley, we were on the same team, I said, ‘no, he’s good, honestly.’
“He can run, he can attack, and he can defend. He has good passing quality… no, he’s good.”
Disasi hails Crysencio Summerville and El Hadji Malick Diouf
As Disasi impressed on his West Ham debut in that 2-0 victory at Turf Moor, the ‘outstanding’ Fernandes assisted Crysencio Summerville’s opener with the sort of barnstorming run and well-weighted pass which is fast becoming his trademark.
Certainly this is West Ham’s most complete midfield talent since the Declan Rice days. There is also a growing feeling that Fernandes belongs alongside the Elliott Andersons, the Adam Whartons, and arguably the Carlos Balebas; The Premier League’s next midfield superstar.
Disasi admits Fernandes ‘surprised’ him at West Ham… 🤩
Which player has proved YOU wrong this season?
“He’s really surprised me,” agrees former Hammers striker Carlton Cole, sitting opposite Disasi. “When you get a run of games in the Premier League, you start to feel more confident and say, ‘OK, I belong here.’
“That’s what he’s feeling now. Mateus has done really well.”
With six goals in seven games, the latest coming off the bench at Burton, Summerville is in ‘almost unstoppable’ form right now. El Hadji Malick Diouf ended a 13-game wait for a West Ham assist in that Burnley win, his confidence boosted by winning the African Cup of Nations with Senegal.
At a West Ham side who can climb out of the relegation zone by beating Bournemouth on Saturday evening, Disasi finds himself looking around the dressing room in awe of some of the talent at Nuno’s disposal.
“[Summerville] is very sharp and very quick. He’s been doing very well over the last few games. He is very helpful for us, most definitely,” Disasi adds.
“I know ‘JC’ and Soungoutou as well. I saw him start in Monaco when he came through the academy, so I’m happy to see him here. When you come to a new team, it’s obviously good to have faces you know and you can speak with. It made the integration much easier for me.
“But the other guys have been top with me as well. They are very friendly, so my integration has been very good.
“When I came here, I realised that everyone has that same goal. We are all in the same boat. We have to go to get our objective because obviously the players know we are not in the place we should be.
“But when you look at the squad, you can see the quality. We have players like Malick, who just won the AFCON. You can tell the team has the quality to get through [this]. We just have to stick together the way we are now, and I’m sure we will be OK.”
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