A Wolves star says Max Kilman made him eat his words after he mocked West Ham’s new £40m man the first time he saw him train.
When West Ham forked out £40m to sign Max Kilman from Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend it raised eyebrows in some quarters.
Not least among a certain section of Hammers fans, who questioned whether the club had overpaid Wolves for their captain.
Signing a player in the prime of their career from a Premier League club rarely comes cheap.
Particularly when they are that club’s captain and especially if they are English.
Throw in the fact Kilman had only recently signed a new long-term deal at Wolves and it’s easy to see why the Molineux club were able to command such a sizeable fee from West Ham.
West Ham and Wolves deal raises some eyebrows
It was actually a case of third time lucky for the Hammers when it comes to Kilman having seen two initial bids dismissed by Wolverhampton Wanderers chief Matt Hobbs.
Ultimately, though, new West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui got his wish to be reunited with the man he made captain during his brief stint as Wolves’ manager.
But rather than revel in the fact they have pulled off the eye-catching signing of a Premier League rival’s captain, many West Ham supporters have been arguing the toss over whether the club has overpaid.
Some Hammers fans have raised doubts about Kilman’s quality and the size of the fee.
Much of that seems to stem from the reaction of a vocal minority of Wolves fans who have celebrated the sale of their captain on social media.
Announcing the sale of Kilman to the Hammers, Wolves director Hobbs aimed a dig at some fans, saying they will now realise just how good he was.
Respected English football journalist Henry Winter and Wolves regular Jacqui Oatley have also praised Kilman and the move.
Wolves star says Kilman made him eat his words
Now a Wolves star has said Kilman made him eat his words after mocking West Ham’s new £40m man.
In a Sky Sports feature which states Kilman is being underrated by too many, Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa says he openly raised doubts about the new Hammer’s ability when he first saw him in training.
Sky Sports journalist and stats man Adam Bate states Kilman should not be underestimated.
Bate points to the fact some of the West Ham defender’s former colleagues made that mistake in the past.
And he adds that one particular conversation with Wolves ace Sa springs to mind.
Bate explained that the goalkeeper knew most of his new team-mates upon arrival “but not the fresh-faced lad at the back”.
Sa admits he mocked and doubted West Ham’s new £40m man
“I talked with him,” Sa told Sky Sports.
“I said, ‘Max, the first training session here, when I saw you, I said to myself that this guy cannot be a player’. In that first session, when we were defending, he did not run. I thought that was impossible. This guy doesn’t run!”
“I had to say sorry to him because after that first session all I was thinking was that he did not run and he did not tackle.
“I eat my words. He is amazing.”
Now Kilman must make a few of his fans – both old and new – at Wolves and West Ham eat their words too.
And who knows, perhaps Kilman can go on to establish himself as an England international if he impresses at the London Stadium.
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