Key West Ham star El Hadji Malick Diouf builds bridges with fans after controversial comments about leaving
El Hadji Malick Diouf is on the charm offensive with West Ham fans after he made controversial comments about leaving the club just months into his Hammers career.
It says everything about the impact made by El Hadji Malick Diouf since he joined West Ham that he is one of the frontrunners for Hammer of the Year.
That may not be anything to write home about given the abysmal season West Ham are having.
But, on the whole, Diouf has been a breath of fresh air since his arrival in a £20m move from Slavia Prague.
The Senegal ace was described as a ‘beautiful boy’ with huge potential by Nuno Espirito Santo.
Diouf is a light in the gloom for West Ham
Diouf has had his struggles in some games, as you would expect with a 20-year-old playing in the Premier League for the first time.
The fact West Ham’s board are panicking about losing Diouf for up to six weeks due to AFCON speaks to his clear importance to the team.
Always smiling and cajoling his, often older, teammates, Diouf has been a real revelation in a poor side.
He has won admirers across the Premier League and with that has come the inevitable talk he could be destined for bigger and better things than fighting relegation with West Ham.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
When Diouf spoke on the subject of his future, though, it went down like a lead balloon with Hammers fans.
West Ham supporters know their football. They know there are bigger and better clubs out there and do not begrudge their top players a move to one of them if it is handled properly and respectfully and if they are not a big rival.
But they also believe playing in the claret and blue is a privilege and should never be taken for granted.
West Ham fans were not happy when their young left-back made a grave error of judgement while away on international duty.
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Diouf made noises about leaving West Ham for elite clubs just months after joining, much to the anger of some Hammers supporters.
Diouf said he is essentially using West Ham as a stepping stone to earn a move to a top five European club.
There were shades of Carlton Cole about the interview after the striker naively referred to West Ham as a ‘stepping stone’ in his first interview after joining.
There was a backlash but Cole turned things around and is now a certified Hammers cult hero.
“Ideally, I see myself in a top club, among the five best in the world. I think I have the potential to get there through hard work,” Diouf said when he was last away with Senegal.
“And I hope, God willing, to achieve that. I have only been in the professional world for two years, so I remain patient.”
The young talent’s remarks sparked frustration among supporters.
But his latest actions show a genuine effort to rebuild trust and reaffirm his commitment.
Now Diouf has described joining West Ham as one of the top three moments of his career so far, saying it made his ‘dream come true’.
The left-back also says he cannot wait to score his first goal in the claret and blue and hopes it arrives soon.
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Diouf says West Ham move is one of his most treasured memories
“My first call-up with the Senegal national team (is my favourite football memory),” Diouf told West Ham’s website.
“It was in September 2024, and I managed to make my debut against Burundi in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, which we won 1-0.
“Next (most cherished football memory), I would say signing for West Ham in the summer.
“I’d always wanted to play in the Premier League, so this was a dream come true.
“And finally, winning the Czech First League title with Slavia Prague in 2024/25, which gave us qualification to the UEFA Champions League.”
Diouf says West Ham’s win at Forest and the home game against Spurs are two of the favourite games of his fledgling career so far.
“I’m still waiting to score my first goal for West Ham, which I hope I can do soon!” Diouf added.
How far can Malick Diouf go? And what does he need to do to become a world-class left-back?
“He is a beautiful boy. He is someone really special. I think he is living a dream. He is playing in the Premier League and he enjoys it so much.
“[Diouf has] a lot of things to improve. A lot of talent. Physically, [he is] something really special. But it is like a diamond that you have to polish.”
– Nuno Espirito Santo on Malick Diouf
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