West Ham flop Simone Zaza admits it was his fault he was such a disaster after signing for Valencia
Ex-Juventus striker played just 11 times failing to net once, and says he was 'not right mentally' and 'very negative'
SIMONE ZAZA has admitted it was his fault he was such a disaster at West Ham after signing for Valencia.
After joining the Hammers for a £5million loan fee from Juventus in August, he failed to find the net once in 11 appearances.
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He was subsequently Zaza was frozen out at the London Stadium and then joined La Liga Valencia on loan until the end of the season.
Zaza admitted he had failed to make a mark at West Ham, where he was expected to be the main striker – blaming his own “negative” mental state.
Speaking at a press conference for his unveiling in Spain, he said: ““It was a very difficult time for me.
“When I joined from Juventus I was very optimistic, I wanted to experience playing in England because I thought it was the football that I liked and where I could use my qualities.
“Everything started badly from the outset, I think the main blame lies with me because I was not right mentally, I was very negative and in all the things that happened I never saw the positive side.
“There was an atmosphere, a culture very different to mine. That was a problem.
“Now I’m here I feel bad not to have shown in England what I’m capable of.”
Valencia have a similar deal in place to West Ham’s, paying £1.76m as a loan fee – and should the Italian international play a certain number of games then the Spanish giants will be obliged to pay at least £14m and sign him permanently.
Valencia are just one place and four points above the relegation zone in La Liga, but earned themselves an important 2-1 victory over Espanyol at the weekend.