Axel Disasi understandably feels indebted to Nuno Espirito Santo in the midst of his West Ham United revival, the Chelsea loanee enjoying a much happier stint than at Aston Villa in the second half of 2024/25.
Not only has the France international been a Premier League ever-present since moving from West to East London on the final day of the January transfer window, he is also playing in his preferred position.
Disasi has formed a fine partnership with Konstantinos Mavropanos. Alongside the recalled, revived Mads Hermansen, the two defensive giants have provided the platform upon which Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen and Taty Castellanos can launch a survival bid to rival West Ham United’s ‘Great Escape’ of 2007.
DISCUSS: How much would you pay for Axel Disasi? 💷
Disasi has THREE years left on his Chelsea contract…
This is Axel Disasi’s second loan spell in a claret and blue kit, following on from his Aston Villa stint a year ago.
Speaking to The Athletic, though, he praises Nuno for entrusting him with a central role in his back four. Quite literally a central role, at that.
Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi in his best role at West Ham United
Disasi featured often at right-back, rather than in his favoured role, under Unai Emery at Villa Park, including against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
This should go a long way to explaining why he struggled to show the best of himself in the Midlands.
“I needed to play, and especially in my position,” Disasi says. “Because it’s something that I missed last season [with Villa], when I was playing out of position.
“The manager has allowed me to express myself.”
Disasi has already played 450 minutes of Premier League football for West Ham, meaning he is almost certain to smash his tally from that Aston Villa spell when Manchester City come to town on Saturday.
France international refuses to comment on Hammers transfer talk
Disasi was imperious up against Erling Haaland on his Chelsea debut back in 2023, also scoring the equaliser in that 1-1 draw. While a win can take them above free-falling Tottenham Hotspur, who travel to Anfield on Sunday, one suspects the Hammers would take a point against Pep Guardiola’s Premier League challengers.
If Summerville is out, who do YOU want to see start on the left?
Disasi will return to Villa Park on Sunday 22nd – Crysencio Summerville faces a race against time being fit for that game – before a more winnable selection of fixtures against the likes of Wolves, Crystal Palace and Everton.
Club insider ExWHUemployee claimed this week that Disasi is keen on joining West Ham permanently, should Nuno Espirito Santo secure Premier League football next season. The man himself would not be drawn on that, however.
“We still have nine games to go so I don’t want to think about [my future] for the moment,” Disasi added. “I just want to enjoy my time.”
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