West Ham may be missing a trick as one of their former stars is lined up by Pep Guardiola for a return to England with Manchester City.
They may be poles apart on the pitch and in the respective boardrooms, but Man City and West Ham are a rarity when it comes to the bond between fans.
The tribalism of English football means most supporters can’t stand their rivals for one reason or another.
Things are different between West Ham and Man City, though.
Fans of both clubs get on famously and there is a respect between West Ham and Man City that is rare in the modern game.
You only have to take one look at social media to see it.
Story behind rare bond between West Ham and Man City
The reason for the bond between the Hammers and Man City dates back to a game at Upton Park in 1987.
Fans celebrated each other’s European victories a couple of years ago.
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West Ham supporters joined in Man City’s title celebrations at the end of last season when a final day defeat at the Etihad saw Arsenal miss out.
There have been a number of fan favourite players who have worn the claret and blue and sky blue of both clubs too from Steve Lomas and Ian Bishop to Eyal Berkovic, Carlos Tevez and Pablo Zabaleta to name but a few.
Manchester City have been pushing relations with West Ham in recent seasons.
The mega rich Etihad side have lured a number of young stars away from the Hammers, including Divine Mukasa and Divin Mubama.
It was revealed this week West Ham are furious with Man City over their latest £10m plan.
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
There have been some links in the dugout too with former West Ham assistant boss Stuart Pearce an ex Man City manager and Manuel Pellegrini having managed both.
One of Pellegrini’s assistants during his spell at West Ham was Enzo Maresca, who was one of Pep Guardiola’s right hand men in Manchester until he left for Leicester.
Now it looks like there will be another link between the two clubs.
Because a maverick former West Ham star is set for an incredible return to England with Man City.
Guardiola is not only facing a major overhaul of his team but also his bench.
Maverick former West Ham star set for Man City
Two key coaches have announced they are leaving Man City with Juanma Lillo and Inigo Dominguez have been confirmed by the club, with both set to leave as their contracts expire this month.
Guardiola is known for always looking to evolve his footballing and coaching philosophies.
Now the Manchester City boss is about to refresh his staff with a madcap former West Ham forward who should do just that.
According to The Mirror, ex Hammers star Alessandro Diamanti is on his way to Manchester City.
Diamanti is currently a youth-team coach with Man City’s Australian sister club Melbourne City.
Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
And the firebrand Italian looks set to come up against his old club West Ham next season as part of Guardiola’s staff.
Diamanti professed his love for West Ham earlier in the season just gone, when pictures of him and his son decked out in Hammers kits 15 years on from his departure.
Sharing the pictures on social media, Diamanti said: “I’ll never forget my time at West Ham. The passion, the fans, and the energy at Upton Park – unbelievable memories. I was only there for a short time, but the support was unforgettable.
“I loved my time, but Italy was calling, and with it, the opportunity to represent my country. West Ham will always hold a special place in my heart. Maybe one day we will meet again.”
Now it seems he was right as he will meet the Hammers again, next season as part of Guardiola’s staff.
So what can Man City fans expect and are West Ham missing a trick not identifying their former player’s coaching talent – as has been the case with Maresca too.
Are West Ham missing a trick as Man City see Diamanti’s worth?
When you’re an Italian forward playing for West Ham, you’ve got a lot to live up to.
Paolo Di Canio set the benchmark pretty high in that regard.
Diamanti had the same crazy, passionate nature as Di Canio and a wand of a left foot.
His stay in east London was short as he arrived in 2009 and left in 2010 after David Sullivan and David Gold took over the club.
He would go on to score eight goals. And although only three came from open play, he was voted runner-up as Hammer of the Year by the club’s supporters behind winner Scott Parker.
There was something about Diamanti that connected with Hammers fans.
The club’s supporters love a rogue or maverick and Diamanti had talent in that left foot despite his diminutive stature.
You don’t play for Italy if you’re no good after all.
He is fondly remembered by the Hammers faithful.
And he clearly feels the same way – but it remains to be seen whether the Hammers will regret not being more aware of the coaching credentials of their former players as he prepares to swap Melbourne for Man City.
Speaking about his ideals as a coach, it seems Diamanti has transferred his passion for playing to management.
And Man City could be getting a diamond in Diamanti.
“My first quality all my life is my passion for the game,” Diamanti said.
“I’m one of them when they play because in the end, a coach is more involved in training than in the game because in the game it’s up to them more than me…
“I treat my players like Serie A players, nothing different. I explain to them at 17, 18, 19 years old, in Europe they play starting XI so there’s no excuses…
“I’m sharing my experiences then it’s up to them. I give every information they need to be successful as a player. Then the responsibility on them. My motto is tactics very important, the technique is very important but the big difference in the end is the mentality you have. I’m just pushing a lot about mentality.
“Every day I say it’s hard to be a footballer player because if you see the numbers of those who become players, it’s very hard. I tell them to work hard. It’s on them – the responsibility. How much they want it.”