West Ham United’s newest recruit Arthur Masuaku can’t wait to get started at the dawn of a new era at the Club.
The full-back won consecutive Greek Superleagues in the last two seasons at Olympiacos and is hoping for similar success in east London.
And when Slaven Bilic and the Hammers came calling, the 22-year-old didn’t think twice about coming to play in the Premier League…
Arthur, welcome to West Ham United! How pleased are you to be at the Club?
AM: “It’s a big honour for me to be part of this Club. I was speaking with my agent about some opportunities, but when he told me about West Ham and also the coach, I didn’t think twice, so in my mind, it was West Ham.”
Was Slaven Bilic a big reason and influence in your decision to join West Ham?
AM: “Yeah, for sure. He wanted me at the Club. It is always very important for players when a coach wants you so, like I say, I didn’t need to think about it.”
It’s such a big time for the Club, moving into our new home. How excited are you to go out there and play in front of 60,000 fans?
AM: “It’s going to be crazy. I’m very excited to have the opportunity to play in front of some amazing fans. I will try to do my best to play my football and I hope that I’m going to be happy."
What can West Ham fans expect of you as a player?
AM: “I think I am a little bit fast with the ball and I have a good left foot. Of course I have to work on my right foot, but I have a good left foot. I need to work on my defence, but I think in attack I am quite good. I have to work to be focused also on my defence.”
You have played for some of the France youth sides. How excited are you to play with compatriot Dimitri Payet?
AM: “It’s going to be crazy. I played with France at U18 and U19 level, with some very good players also. Now, I am going to play with Payet, I was thinking on the way here, it’s going to be crazy! I can’t wait to play with him and also all the rest of the team.”
You won two consecutive league titles in Greece with Olympiacos, so how has that experience helped you as a player?
AM: “First of all, I have to thank Olympiacos because without them, I would not be here. It was a great opportunity to play for them. We won the league two times and the cup one time, two years ago. It’s good for me because I was young when I arrived there, and I played a lot of football, so it’s good. I am young still, so it was good to play.”
Do you feel as though the best of your football career is still ahead of you?
AM: “I hope so! I am still young, like I said. I need to play and I need to learn a lot and I hope that my future is going to be brilliant at West Ham United.”
Players often come to play in the Premier League and say it was their dream to play here. Was that the case for you?
AM: “Yes, of course. For me, it’s the biggest league in the world. When I was 18, my target was to come here, so now I am here, I have to prove myself to the fans and to the team so that I can play for this big Club."