An ex West Ham United striker looks set to be kicked out of the World Cup as a new report makes a claim about Enner Valencia’s Ecuador.
Valencia was the World Cup star who looked destined for big things when he signed for West Ham back in 2014.
The then 24-year-old joined the Hammers from Mexican side Pachuca for a fee believed to be worth £12million (Telegraph).
Valencia went on to score just 10 goals in 68 appearances for West Ham as he failed to establish himself in east London.
The diminutive striker scored a stunning thunderbolt goal at Hull City which underlined his great promise.
But unfortunately for West Ham, it proved something of a one-off.
Valencia fell down the pecking order and was eventually loaned out to Everton where he scored just three goals in 23 games.
The Toffees were not interested in stumping up the £10million West Ham wanted to take Valencia permanently (Liverpool Echo).
And with a dismal record in English football of just 13 goals from 91 games there were no other takers in Europe either.
In July 2017, the Ecuadorian – who has a superb international record of 29 goals in 51 games for his national team – was shipped back to Mexico where he signed for Tigres UANL for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £5million.
Taking into account the £5million West Ham recouped for the striker Valencia cost the Hammers around £700,000 per goal. And that is without factoring in his wages too.
After three seasons – and 33 goals – back in the Americas, Fenerbahce brought Valencia back to Europe on a free transfer.
He has scored 32 goals in 77 games there. And with an impressive 35 goals in 72 games for his country he remains a key member of the Ecuador national team that qualified for the Qatar World Cup.
The former Hammers forward and his country are in Group A with hosts Qatar, Holland and Senegal.
But the ex West Ham striker looks set to be kicked out of the World Cup as a report makes a claim about Valencia’s Ecuador.
An exclusive report from The Daily Mail claims Ecuador face being kicked out of the World Cup over new evidence of fake passports, multiple identities and an apparent cover-up.
The report even claims there are documents confirming Ecuador star Byron Castillo was born in Colombia following a four-year fake passport cover up.
Ironically it could be Chile who take Ecuador’s place, whose attack is spearheaded by West Ham striker target Ben Brereton Diaz.
The Daily Mail’s explosive story also contains audio evidence and comes just two days before FIFA’s appeal commission makes its ruling which could see ex West Ham striker Valencia and his teammates kicked out of the winter World Cup.
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