A club director has defended his decision to allow star Gianluca Scamacca to join West Ham United in the summer after criticism.
There has been much excitement surrounding West Ham’s summer business.
The Hammers owners have backed David Moyes with eight quality new signings to the tune of £170m.
But after a long 18-month search for a striker, it was the arrival of Italy forward Scamacca who has – along with record arrival Lucas Paqueta – captured the imagination of West Ham fans most.
It has been a slow burn for Scamacca in the Premier League so far. Moyes was drip-feeding him into the English game as the 23-year-old did not get a pre-season with Sassuolo.
And just as he was getting going, illness ruled Scamacca out of West Ham’s last two games.
But West Ham fans have been impressed with what they have seen on his two starts in Europe, where Scamacca has notched two goals.
The Italian is back in training and Moyes hopes he will be fit to start against FCSB on Thursday night.
West Ham beat the mighty Paris Saint-Germain to the signing of Scamacca in the summer as they put up the £35m to do a deal with Sassuolo.
And the move to West Ham has been big news in Italy. It is very rare for top young Italian talent to leave Serie A – especially those who are seen as the big new hope of the national team – like Scamacca.
If and when they do leave Italy, those players almost always join so-called top clubs competing in the Champions League.
There was anger in Italy that Scamacca was allowed to leave Serie A. Many had expected Juventus, Inter Milan or Milan to do a deal with Sassuolo.
But West Ham showed the ambition and pushed hardest and Moyes got his reward when the 6ft 5in ‘new Zlatan’ arrived at the London Stadium.
Club director defends decision to allow star Gianluca Scamacca to join West Ham after criticism
Sassuolo chief Giovanni Carnevali has been discussing Scamacca’s move to West Ham with Sky Sport Italia.
And the club director has defended the decision to allow star Scamacca to join West Ham after criticism in Italy.
“No Italian team made an offer to sign him,” Carnevali told Sky Sport Italia in response to criticism of the decision to allow a top national team talent to depart his homeland.
“PSG were the first club to talk to us.
“In the end, we reached an agreement with West Ham and we had to say no to PSG, but I think it’s the right step for the player.”
Another Italian import to the Premier League has been raving about Scamacca.
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