An international break throws up stories that might not perhaps hit the headlines amidst the cut and thrust of a Premier League campaign. A former Hammers skipper making something of a comeback, despite all the physical odds being stacked against him, is indeed a little piece of feel-good news and deserves an airing in these West Ham-news-limited weeks.
“A boy with extraordinary character” might describe former Hammers captain Kurt Zouma at the peak of his powers – but hardly a description you’d expect to be applied today, towards the end of a stellar career but one that saw him immobile, unable to run and shipped out from West Ham unceremoniously to hasten the end of his Claret and Blue career.
However he has a new club, a new manager and a new contract worth 1 million a year – reportedly worth more than the whole division he’s playing in, according to stokesentinel.co.uk who report that the former West Ham, Chelsea (and Stoke loanee) ..
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“Now aged 30, has signed for Cluj [in the Romanian league] and has a contract running for two years in Transylvania.”
After seeing his struggle during the latter days at West Ham, he’s a miracle of modern science even to continue playing, to be fair. That knee made him as mobile as a cemented-in telegraph pole.
incredible resilience to keep playing | Kurt Zouma
“Cluj owner Nelu Varga said: “I am the happiest that I have made the transfer that I wanted the most. He is an incredible player and, moreover, a boy with an extraordinary character. Not only will he bring value to the team, but he will be an example in the changing room for his teammates”
Indeed, ProSport, the Romania sport website, offers a different suggestion with the headline: “The historic salary that convinced Kurt Zouma – something like this has never been seen in the Super League.” Leading Romanian agent Giovanni Becali claimed that Zouma would be taking home €1 million per season.
And good luck to Zooooooooouma.