Edson Alvarez has added fuel to the fire at West Ham after posting a cryptic message on social media after being frozen out by Graham Potter.
One player who looked to have benefited from Graham Potter replacing Julen Lopetegui was Edson Alvarez.
But in the space of three months that has all changed.
Alvarez was one of a number of players who fell out with Lopetegui.
After two ridiculous red cards earlier in the season at Forest and Liverpool, Alvarez and Lopetegui blanked one another.
Alvarez out of favour at West Ham again
The Mexican was also reportedly one of five players who threatened to leave West Ham if Lopetegui wasn’t sacked.
Alvarez looked a capable defensive replacement for Declan Rice when he first arrived from Ajax for £34m two summers ago.
After an impressive first few months, he – like the team – dropped off a cliff at the start of 2024 and has never recovered.
But when Potter arrived, Alvarez suddenly found himself a key part of the team again, often conversing with the manager on the sidelines over the gameplan and tactics.
Alvarez even remarked he had been impressed by Potter’s ideas and approach despite not having too much knowledge of him before his arrival at the London Stadium.
Those pitchside chats have stopped in recent times, though.
And Alvarez has slipped out of the team amid rumours he will be one of the first to leave West Ham this summer.
The Hammers are desperate to raise funds having reached their PSR limit.
Alvarez has talked up a move away from West Ham on several occasions – almost from the very moment he arrived.
Alvarez posts cryptic message after being frozen out by Potter
‘Immobile’ Alvarez was singled out as West Ham’s biggest problem by pundits on Match of the Day earlier this season.
Relations appear to be strained between the midfielder and West Ham’s now under pressure manager at the draw with Southampton.
Alvarez has started just two of West Ham’s last six games and has been subbed off by Potter in both.
He was hooked at half-time of the draw with Bournemouth the last time West Ham played at home before Southampton.
Alvarez was then an unused sub in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield last weekend.
The 27-year-old was then left out of the squad altogether for the clash with already relegated Southampton.
And when Potter was asked if there were any injury doubts before the game, Alvarez was not listed.
West Ham failed to win the game to heap early pressure on Potter.
Now West Ham star Alvarez has posted a cryptic message after being frozen out by Potter.
Taking to his Instagram Stories just after West Ham were booed off at full-time of a dismal 1-1 draw with Southampton, Alvarez posted a picture of himself from behind and, perhaps significantly, in his Mexico shirt rather than West Ham’s kit.
Over the top of the sombre image, Alvarez wrote in Spanish, saying: “Time is the only wise man who never speaks but always answers.”
The saying is said to have deep meaning that time, though silent, is a teacher and a judge of all things.
Cracks beginning to appear for Potter at West Ham
And that its actions and consequences provide answers to life’s questions and ultimately reveal the wisdom or folly of our choices.
So this very much seems like a message from Alvarez that he is deeply unhappy and wants out of West Ham.
If he is struggling to get in his woeful and pedestrian West Ham midfield then something really is wrong.
Even on loan Carlos Soler – who the club has no intention of keeping – is starting ahead of Alvarez.
Given the rumours surrounding his future, which he has always talked up rather than down, it now seems Alvarez will almost certainly be on his way this summer if this situation is anything to go by.
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