Pablo Felipe will know exactly what West Ham United teammate Mateus Fernandes means when he talks about the physical gap between the Portuguese Primeira Liga and the English Premier League.
At least the latter had a year’s worth of adaptation under his belt before West Ham United signed him in a £40 million deal from Southampton in 2025.
Those questioning Pablo Felipe’s talents after only a few weeks and a handful of appearances would do well to remember that, a year ago when trudging around in the basement with Southampton, few imagined just how high Mateus Fernandes would be flying 12 months later.
Who would YOU start if Pablo is injured? 🤕
Callum Wilson again? Fernandes at 10? A Keiber Lamadrid debut?
Pablo of West Ham United gestures to the supporters at full-time the Premier League match between Burnley and West Ham United at Turf Moor on February 07, 2026 in Burnley, England.
Pablo is a doubt to face Manchester United in Tuesday’s 8.15pm kick-off. The £18 million signing from Gil Vicente is highly unlikely to open his top-flight account tonight, then.
But, while the conversion rate which seemed to suggest Pablo was more ruthless than Erling Haaland is yet to be glimpsed in a claret and blue shirt, green shoots are at least visible. Nuno Espirito Santo expects Pablo to break his duck and open the floodgates sooner rather than later, after seeing Taty Castellanos do just that against Burnley on Saturday.
Fernandes is equally hopeful.
When speaking about other under-the-radar Primeira Liga talent who may be ripe for a chance on English soil, meanwhile, Fernandes spoke warmly about his former Estoril teammate Rafik Guitane.
Mateus Fernandes would welcome Rafik Guitane to West Ham United after Pablo Felipe arrival
West Ham United's Spanish Brazilian striker #19 Pablo Felipe (C) attempts to block a shot from Chelsea's Spanish goalkeeper #01 Robert Sanchez (L) during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge in London on January 31, 2026. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images
Two-time Algeria international Guitane is a diminutive, silky attacking midfielder who rose through the ranks at Le Havre and Rennes in the country of his birth. He played alongside Fernandes during his loan spell at Estoril in the 2023/24 season, providing eight goal contributions in 18 matches.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
At the age of 26, Guitane is coming into his prime. And still more than young enough to follow in Fernandes’ footsteps.
“I was fortunate enough to play for Estoril and, based on my time in England, I can confirm there were players at Estoril back then who would likely fit right into the English league,” Fernandes tells DAZN Portugal.
“I think the main difference lies more in intensity, which is something you learn to acquire and work toward. It’s not so much about technical or tactical ability. In fact, I’ve worked with players who were more technically gifted [in Portugal] than those here in England.
“For example, Rafik Guitane is a player I talk about with my teammates here. All the French players I have at West Ham [Jean-Clair Todibo, Alphonse Areola, Soungoutou Magassa, Axel Disasi and Mohamadou Kante] know him.
“He is a high-quality player who, with more consistency, could be at a much higher level. Now, it’s up to him to provide that consistency.”
How West Ham could line-up vs Man United TONIGHT! ⚽
Describe this XI in one word…
West Ham v Man United predicted XI
Fernandes impressed by Pablo’s ability to ‘adapt’ to the Premier League
Following his emotional return to Brazil last month, Nuno was pessimistic about replacing Lucas Paqueta like-for-like. Reported interest in the likes of Paris FC ace Ilan Kebbal, though, suggests that the Hammers are still looking outside the box for players capable of filling the Brazilian’s boots to some degree.
Alan Nixon claimed on his Patreon account that Kebbal had been looked at as a Paqueta successor. Rafik Guitane appears to be a footballer of a similar skillset, and of a similar frame.
Should he do what Fernandes asked and add more ‘consistency’ to his game, and should Pablo eventually make the leap from Gil Vicente to West Ham, then perhaps the Londoners will feel emboldened to take another dip into the Portuguese pool.
“As we’ve seen, Pablo arrived and, obviously, there is a massive difference in terms of intensity, muscle mass, and physical duels,” adds Fernandes. “But he adapted quickly.
“He didn’t need those typical two or three months to adjust. He came in, understood the team’s current form and what the manager needed, and adapted immediately. He’s been a huge help to us.”
Some West Ham fans have drawn comparisons with Pablo Fornals due to his namesake’s willingness to press hard from the front, drop deep to help out the midfield, and chase lost causes into the channels.
Nuno must decide whether or not to stick with Callum Wilson in his potential absence against Man United. Wilson started last time out at Turf Moor but failed to make much of an impact as he was hauled off early in the second-half.
Keiber Lamadrid is expected to be in Nuno’s squad for the first time since he arrived from Deportivo la Guaira three weeks ago.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox