A revealing behind-the-scenes video has laid bare the extent to which Emerson Palmieri has been ostracised at West Ham – and we may now know why too.
It was an absolute necessity that West Ham signed new full-backs this summer.
One of several positions that have been neglected by the Hammers down the years, the departures of ageing stars Aaron Cresswell and Vladimir Coufal made it vital Graham Potter got things right.
Many were surprised when Potter ruthlessly decided to axe Cresswell and Coufal given they were among West Ham’s better performers under him in the second half of last season.
But it was undoubtedly the right decision at the right time.
West Ham’s full-back options are now at their most impressive for many years.
Potter did not take to Emerson from day one at West Ham
El Hadji Malick Diouf, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Kyle Walker-Peters and Ollie Scarles are vying for the spots.
But one full-back in particular has become something of a forgotten man at West Ham.
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Emerson Palmieri’s future has also looked to be away from east London almost from the very moment Potter arrived.
The Englishman’s first major act as Hammers boss was to drop Emerson for young Scarles in his first game as manager – 48 hours into his tenure.
Emerson did start some games under Potter last season, but notably he was subbed off in every single one.
Emerson Palmieri in action for West Ham against rivals Spurs at the London Stadium
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
The Brazilian-born 29-capped Italian international has just turned 31 and was left out of West Ham’s US Tour by Potter, being told to find a new club.
Despite reported interest from Italy, Turkey and Brazil, Emerson remains at West Ham.
It is a fall from grace for the former fan favourite, who was the club’s best player in the semi-final and final of their Europa Conference League triumph.
Emerson arrived at West Ham as a £13.5m signing from Chelsea under David Moyes.
He took a while to adapt but enjoyed a spell of magnificent form between the end of the 2022/23 season and midway through the following campaign.
Like most of the team, though, Emerson’s performances have dipped since January 2024, with the Hammers winning just 15 of their 57 Premier League games between then and now.
Video shows outcast Emerson now completely ostracised
All the way back in mid-June, Fabrizio Romano confirmed Emerson was set to be West Ham’s first sale of the summer.
He has barely been seen in any of West Ham’s pre-season media footage or images.
But behind the scenes video shows West Ham outcast Emerson is now completely ostracised.
And perhaps we now know one of the reasons why.
The Irons released behind-the-scenes footage of goalkeeper Mads Hermansen’s first day at West Ham.
It follows the Dane’s day from arriving at the club to sign his contract to the media work, and tours of the stadium and training ground before being unveiled to the fans during the game against Lille.
As it is matchday, West Ham’s first team are all in Stratford preparing for the game.
Emerson Palmieri and close friend Lucas Paqueta lift the Europa Conference League trophy with West Ham
Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
But as Hermansen is being shown around Rush Green, he is told there are a couple of players in the gym he can meet.
One of them was Callum Wilson, who missed the match as he works to build up his fitness due to a lack of pre-season following his departure from Newcastle.
The other is the lesser-spotted Emerson Palmieri.
At one point Emerson was one of the first names on the West Ham teamsheet.
Now he is in the corner of the gym at the training ground virtually alone while the team are playing.
“Nice to meet you, welcome,” Emerson says rather sheepishly to Hermansen in the footage as he breaks off from conversation with a member of the fitness team.
Given Potter has talked about making West Ham one big family, a trusting environment where everyone feels valued and part of the collective, the treatment of Emerson seems strange.
Yes he looks like he will be on his way out, but to be so clearly marginalised strikes as somewhat odd.
So do we now know why?
Top West Ham insider Sean Whetstone has revealed Potter has taken a tough stance with players, with one in particular already feeling his wrath.
Whetstone reports on Claret and Hugh that training ground sources have revealed to him Potter told his first team squad: “Last season, you were someone else’s players; this season, you are my players.”
It is claimed Potter expects strong discipline and timekeeping for training and has reportedly enforced fines for players who turn up late for training or break other rules
It has been reported that one player has already received the wrath of a new no-nonsense approach from Potter by being left out of some pre-season duties for persistent lateness to training.
The player has not been late since he was spoken to and punished by the head coach.
It may be putting two and two together and making five, but given Emerson is the only player who has been completely ostracised from the group for much of pre-season, it seems obvious he could be the one who has incurred Potter’s fury.
If so it is great to see the manager cracking the whip because the team has clearly become far too lackadaisical in the last 18 months.
But it is a sad end to Emerson’s West Ham career, which must surely now result in a move away before the September 1st deadline.