West Ham United’s newest recruit Pedro Obiang is itching to get going in Claret and Blue having put pen to paper on a four-year-deal
West Ham United’s newest recruit Pedro Obiang is itching to get going in Claret and Blue having put pen to paper on a four-year-deal.
The 23-year-old Spaniard insists these are exciting times for the Hammers, not least as the very first signing under new boss Slaven Bilic.
Incidentally, the ambitious Obiang has already run out at the Boleyn Ground, in a pre-season friendly for Sampdoria last term, but the prospect of doing so for West Ham is an altogether different one.
“It means a lot for me to come here but the most important thing is to start playing and show the fans what I can do,” he told West Ham TV.
“From the moment I signed the contract I’ve been looking forward to playing for this team. We’re obviously on holiday at the moment but it’ll be good to start training and get going.
“I have very big ambitions with this Club. This Club is experiencing very exciting times, a new manager and big projects. That’s why I came here.
“Hopefully we can get through the qualifying rounds of the Europa League, finish the league in the top eight and show that we are a team that can compete against the biggest teams.”
The new Stadium, of course, is pivotal to the Club’s continued progress and, for Obiang, news of another 20,000 supporters is music to his hears.
“I saw a lot of the Stadium during the Olympics. It’s big, which means more supporters. A project like that will change the Club and will move us forward.
“I would tell the fans, keep the passion, as always. I have heard very good things about them and I know they’ll keep supporting the Club as they always do.”
With Bilic soon to take the reins, it is not just Obiang who will start afresh under the Croat, and the box-to-box midfielder is not the least bit fazed by a new manager with new ideas.
“At Sampdoria we changed manager six times in the last six years! Every time that you change manager is a new adventure so it’s an exciting time and I hope to meet him soon.”
A former Spain U21 international, Obiang describes himself as a wholehearted midfielder, but with an eye for a pass too.
“For those who’ve never seen me play, you’ll have to wait and see,” he joked. “I’m a very hard-working player. I like to play good football and give 100 per cent for my team. I like the occasional dribble and to create chances. I'll try to adapt as quickly as possible.”
As for his new surroundings, Obiang is already au fait with two of his fellow Spanish-speaking teammates and has kept one eye on Alex Song too.
He continued: “I know a little bit about them, I came here to play a friendly last season so I have seen most of them.
“I know of players like Mauro Zarate and Enner Valencia and I’ve looked closely at Alex Song because we play in the same position.
“They made a very good start to the season but obviously my focus has been on my own game, so I’ve not yet had the chance to follow them too much.”
The 23-year-old Spaniard insists these are exciting times for the Hammers, not least as the very first signing under new boss Slaven Bilic.
Incidentally, the ambitious Obiang has already run out at the Boleyn Ground, in a pre-season friendly for Sampdoria last term, but the prospect of doing so for West Ham is an altogether different one.
“It means a lot for me to come here but the most important thing is to start playing and show the fans what I can do,” he told West Ham TV.
“From the moment I signed the contract I’ve been looking forward to playing for this team. We’re obviously on holiday at the moment but it’ll be good to start training and get going.
“I have very big ambitions with this Club. This Club is experiencing very exciting times, a new manager and big projects. That’s why I came here.
“Hopefully we can get through the qualifying rounds of the Europa League, finish the league in the top eight and show that we are a team that can compete against the biggest teams.”
The new Stadium, of course, is pivotal to the Club’s continued progress and, for Obiang, news of another 20,000 supporters is music to his hears.
“I saw a lot of the Stadium during the Olympics. It’s big, which means more supporters. A project like that will change the Club and will move us forward.
“I would tell the fans, keep the passion, as always. I have heard very good things about them and I know they’ll keep supporting the Club as they always do.”
With Bilic soon to take the reins, it is not just Obiang who will start afresh under the Croat, and the box-to-box midfielder is not the least bit fazed by a new manager with new ideas.
“At Sampdoria we changed manager six times in the last six years! Every time that you change manager is a new adventure so it’s an exciting time and I hope to meet him soon.”
A former Spain U21 international, Obiang describes himself as a wholehearted midfielder, but with an eye for a pass too.
“For those who’ve never seen me play, you’ll have to wait and see,” he joked. “I’m a very hard-working player. I like to play good football and give 100 per cent for my team. I like the occasional dribble and to create chances. I'll try to adapt as quickly as possible.”
As for his new surroundings, Obiang is already au fait with two of his fellow Spanish-speaking teammates and has kept one eye on Alex Song too.
He continued: “I know a little bit about them, I came here to play a friendly last season so I have seen most of them.
“I know of players like Mauro Zarate and Enner Valencia and I’ve looked closely at Alex Song because we play in the same position.
“They made a very good start to the season but obviously my focus has been on my own game, so I’ve not yet had the chance to follow them too much.”