2nd September, 2014
French midfielder Morgan Amalfitano signed for English Premier League side West Ham on Monday from Ligue 1 outfit Marseille where he had fallen out of favour with Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa.
The 29-year old — capped once by France — has already experienced Premier league football having gone on loan to West Bromwich Albion last season scoring four goals in 28 appearances.
However, while he returned to Marseille in the close season he had a very public falling out with Bielsa — the fiery Argentine calling a halt to a training session prematurely after Amalfitano turned up having been told to stay away — and his only hope for playing this season was a move away.
“Olympique Marseille and West Ham have reached an agreement on Monday evening for the transfer of midfielder Morgan Amalfitano,” Marseille announced on its website without disclosing the length of the contract or the transfer fee.
Photo: @whufc_official
Amalfitano had been at Marseille since joining from Lorient in June 2011, making 87 appearances and scoring seven times.
Since Bielsa arrived in the close season several other senior players have been sidelined, among them Rod Fanni, Modou Sougou and Foued Kadir, with the latter two leaving on loan deals to Ligue 1 outfit Evian-Thonon and Spanish second tier side Real Betis respectively.