Adama Traore: Nuno Espirito Santo reveals peculiar new ban for West Ham star | OneFootball

January signing has been forbidden from doing what he loves

West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo says he has banned winger Adama Traore from lifting weights at the club’s training ground.

Back under the stewardship of Nuno, whom he worked with at Wolves, Traore has been told he is not allowed to lift weights at West Ham’s Rush Green training ground after a video emerged on Crysencio Summerville’s social media of the 30-year-old bench-pressing 145 kilograms, although Traore curiously denied lifting weights.

“It’s incredible [his muscles], it’s genetics”, Nuno said.

“His genetics have been like this for some time now and he should avoid the gym. I’ve told him to stay out of the gym. It’s one of the things that I think he needs to realise. It’s enough weight that he carries. He’ll do prevention work (in the gym), but he’s not in there lifting weights.

“For example, Airidas Golambeckis [an 18-year-old defender in the Under-21s] spends hours in the gym. We have to get weight on him. He’s the one that needs some muscle. It’s the other way around.”

Traore was one of five January signings made by West Ham, with Pablo Felipe, Taty Castellanos, Keiber Lamadrid and Axel Disasi also arriving to bolster the Hammers’ squad as they look to escape the relegation zone.

Brought in for his “unique” talent and Premier League experience, Traore has been limited to minutes off the bench so far, with his only start coming in the extra-time victory over League One side Burton Albion in the FA Cup fourth round.

The form of Summerville and Jarrod Bowen, whose goals have taken West Ham to within two points of 17th-place Nottingham Forest, has kept Traore out of the side, but Nuno admits he has been pleased with the Barcelona academy graduate’s impact.

“You have to realise the players that are not involved are hugely important for us in terms of preparation and options for the game itself,” the Portuguese added.

“Traore’s unique. There are not many players in world football with his ability, pace and skills in one-v-one situations.

“He’s a talent that we have to take advantage of, but it will take time. He has to adapt. He has to understand many things within the dynamic of the team. But he’s proven, not only at Wolves, he’s proven in England [and] in the Spain squad not long ago. We’re talking about a high-level player.

“I think the squad has accepted him really well. He has brought new energy to us. We’ve been trying every day to help him. But of course ahead of him he has two players at the top of their game [Bowen and Summerville]. Traore’s patient enough to realise his chance will come.”