You do not need to spend much time with Carlos Soler to realise he is a smart, grounded and thoroughly pleasant human being.
Calm, composed and competitive on the pitch, and polite and amiable off it, Soler arrived at West Ham United with a smile on his face, speaking fluent English and determined to show the qualities that have earned him 14 Spain caps, an Olympic Silver medal, UEFA European U21 Championship, two Ligue 1 titles and domestic cup wins in Spain and France.
Born in Valencia, Soler joined his eponymous hometown club at the age of eight, advancing through Los Ches' youth system and B team before establishing himself as a first-team regular in 2017 and playing 226 matches over six-and-a-half seasons in La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League and Europa League.
For Soler, playing for the team he supported as a boy was an honour and delight, not just for himself but for his family. An outstanding performer in La Liga, the midfielder travelled to the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan and 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, earning a move to French club Paris Saint-Germain.
Two seasons in Paris brought four winner’s medals, before the 27-year-old opted to bring his quality to the Premier League, as he joined West Ham on a season-long loan in late August.
As is the case with so many players arriving in England for the first time, it has taken Soler a little time to become accustomed to the intensity of the Premier League, but in recent weeks he has shown why he was brought to east London, starting wins over Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers and providing his first assist in Claret and Blue against Arsenal.
Speaking to West Ham TV after Monday’s emotional 2-1 victory over Wolves, at which Soler and his teammates showed support for Michail Antonio following his car accident, the No4 talked about his growing role at his new Club…