Fornals offers Lopetegui West Ham insight

Image source, Getty Images

  • Author, Simon Stone in San Diego
  • Role, Chief football news reporter

New West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has spoken to Pablo Fornals to get some insight into what he can expect at London Stadium.

Fornals spent four-and-a-half years at West Ham, making 203 appearances for the club before joining Real Betis for 拢6.8m in February.

He still keeps in touch with many of his former team-mates, and Lopetegui used his knowledge once he discovered he would be replacing David Moyes in the summer.

"I was called by the new manager a few months ago - he just wanted to know about how West Ham works," Fornals told 大象传媒 Sport. "He is Spanish, I am Spanish and I had spoken with him a few times before, so he just wanted to know about the players.

"I am still connected with them so, to be honest, it is not a bad thing.

"I love them. I speak to them as many times as I can - the physios and the players - but they are not [just] players - they are my friends."

The burning question: what did he tell Lopetegui?

"That it is a nice club - a family club," he said. "There are a lot of very good people there. He asked me about the players, [but] that is his job. I try to help everyone."