West Ham United centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo responded to a fan on Instagram after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton.
Jean-Clair Todibo was introduced into the game at half-time by West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui.
Personally, I didn’t think the 24-year-old was very good at all, but I’m seeing some fans raving about his performance. It’s a game of opinions isn’t it.
Todibo has endured a tough start to life at the London Stadium, and it has been claimed that he has already had a big fall-out with Lopetegui.
As a result, the Frenchman has been absent from the starting lineup and even the squad as a whole in recent weeks.
Evan Ferguson of Brighton & Hove Albion and Jean-Clair Todibo of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and...
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
So what does the future hold for the centre-back? West Ham have an obligation to sign him for £35 million in the summer.
It has been claimed recently that he was ‘forced’ into joining the Hammers rather than Juventus in the summer.
So could he push for an exit with Lopetegui still at the helm?
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Jean-Clair Todibo replies to West Ham fan on Instagram
The 24-year-old moved to the London Stadium in the summer amidst a huge wave of excitment.
Todibo was widely considered to be one of the best young central defenders on the planet.
However, we haven’t quite seen that in action yet.
He has been well off the pace in the Premier League in general, and he seems to lack the physicality required to succeed in England.
West Ham United's Jean-Clair Todibo challenges Arsenal's Leandro Trossard during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Arsenal FC...
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
I’m not writing him off yet at all though. Many centre-backs moving to the Premier League need at least one full season to adapt to the pace and intensity of the competition.
Anyone remember Nemanja Vidic’s start at Manchester United?
But will he be here long enough for us to see him evolve into the top-class defender we all know he’s capable of becoming?
Todibo took to his Instagram account last night to provide everyone an answer.
One West Ham fan posted a picture of the Hammers centre-back alongside the caption: “Great performance, don’t leave please.“
And the Frenchman responded: “I’m not gonna leave big man. West Ham are massive, don’t believe the media.“
That is absolutely brilliant from Todibo, although I will share a word of warning.
Those words from the defender are eerily similar to the message that Marko Arnautovic sent to the Hammers fans all those years ago, before he slipped off to China!
West Ham fans need to see genuine commitment from Jean-Clair Todibo on a consistent basis, but with actions not words.
I’m just not sure he will ever fulfil his potential with Julen Lopetegui at the helm at the London Stadium.
I suspect that we will start to see the best of the French centre-back whenever Lopetegui is finally moved on.
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