Wednesday 17 September 2014 11:01, UK
Alex Song has explained why he decided to join West Ham United on a season-long loan deal from Barcelona last month.
The Cameroon international left Arsenal for the Spanish club in the summer of 2012, but was considered surplus to requirements by new Barca coach Luis Enrique.
The 27-year-old midfielder was allowed to leave the Nou Camp on loan in the summer, and he took the chance to move to West Ham.
I wanted to come back to the Premier League and when the manager spoke to me I was very happy to be part of the project.
Song has now revealed that talks with Hammers manager Sam Allardyce convinced him to join the London outfit and become part of their “project”.
“It was very easy,” he said in The Sun. “I wanted to come back to the Premier League and when the manager spoke to me I was very happy to be part of the project.
“Some people said, ‘Why don’t you go to play for a club in the Champions League?’ But I played Champions League for nine years. For me it wasn’t important.
“I’ve many years to play there again, I am confident. I want, this year, just to play for West Ham and do my best and then we’ll see what’s happening.”
Another player to join West Ham in the summer was Enner Valencia. The Ecuador international forward made the switch from Pachuca and has made a good start to life in the Premier League.
It was an unbelievable strike but we’ve seen him do that in training and we keep telling him to keep shooting.
Valencia scored a brilliant goal for the Hammers in their 2-2 draw with Hull City at the KC Stadium on Monday, leading team-mate Stewart Downing to hail the 24-year-old.
“It was an unbelievable strike but we’ve seen him do that in training and we keep telling him to keep shooting,” said the 30-year-old. “That’s a big goal for him.
“It is always good to get your first one and if he keeps striking them like that he’ll get a few more for us.
“He’s got a leap on him, too. It doesn’t matter how big you are if you have that and you’re a good header of the ball.”
