Former West Ham United loan star Joao Mario appears to have aimed a dig at the club’s fans.
Portuguese playmaker Mario signed on a six-month loan deal from Inter Milan last season.
The diminutive midfielder generally adapted well to life in the Premier League.
His two goals and several assists played a big part in West Ham staying up under David Moyes.
The Hammers had rescued the £35 million former Sporting star from obscurity at the San Siro.
Hammers helped Joao get career back on track
And during his time in East London Mario regularly praised the club’s supporters and the atmosphere in England insisting he hoped to do enough to earn a permanent move.
After a win at Leicester last term Mario told the club’s official website: “Their (the fans) support for us was amazing and it means everything, so we have to say ‘Thank you’ to them because the atmosphere they created was fantastic.”
Come the summer West Ham remained interested after the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini.
But Inter refused to budge on their valuation of Mario and the Hammers signed Andriy Yarmolenko and Jack Wilshere instead.
That left the future looking bleak for Mario who had hit out at Inter and Italian football in interviews during his stay in East London (Football Italia).
Mask slips again for two-faced star
Now it appears the mask has slipped AGAIN for Mario.
That’s after he took a cheap shot at Hammers fans as he delivered a grovelling apology to Inter’s fans in an interview with Calcio 2000 (As reported by Football Italia).
“Obviously I’m sorry,” the 26-year-old told Calcio 2000 .
“You learn from mistakes and that was a mistake. I have to respect a team like Inter who spent so much to sign me, and I’m very happy to have been given a second chance here.
“The Inter fans were also crucial. For them I was both an idol and a bad player. It would be great if I found the right balance.
“I’ve been in England (with West Ham) and they’re all too quiet there. I prefer the warmth of our fans.”
That’s not so super, Mario
Charming.
Mario was warmly welcomed by West Ham at a difficult period for the club.
He was given the chance to get his career back on track at at great club in a big stadium with loyal and passionate fans in what is the best league in the world.
So this is a funny way of showing his gratitude. But it seems it is par for the course for the midfielder who would struggle to get near West Ham’s first team anyway with a fully fit squad available.
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