Writer Daniel Hurley claims it is ‘odd’ that West Ham United did not recognise Nikola Vlasic getting to the World Cup semi-final with Croatia.
Vlasic has featured in all but one of Croatia’s World Cup games, playing a total of 175 minutes at the tournament. He was even a 72nd-minute substitute against Brazil and netted a penalty in the shootout that saw them reach back-to-back World Cup semi-finals.
However, there was no mention or congratulations from the Irons on social media. The club have left the 25-year-old out of any of their posts surrounding the World Cup, with a recent message showing Alphonse Areola, Declan Rice, Lucas Paqueta and Nayef Aguerd all with their nations’ flags prior to the quarter-finals.
Although he is currently out on loan at Torino and with a permanent solution expected by Hurley when the January window opens, the exclusion of the Croatian was something he considered strange.
Writing on The West Ham Way’s Patreon page, he said: “I’m not as bothered about it as some people, as the guy clearly is leaving as soon as the transfer window opens. But at the same time, it is really odd that a West Ham-contracted footballer [is] playing in a World Cup semi-final this week and the club haven’t mentioned it.
“A very odd PR own goal.”
TIF Thoughts on Hurley’s comments…
Having come on at the start of the second half for his country on Tuesday night, Vlasic will now have the chance to secure third place with Croatia when they face the loser of the second semi-final this coming weekend.
It was reported by TuttoMercatoWeb that Torino are set to pay €14.5m (£12.5m) to secure Vlasic’s services permanently, but there has been no confirmation as yet and the Croatian is still a registered Hammers player.
Vlasic has only spent one season at the club where he made 31 appearances in total last season, but managed just one goal and two assists as he started six Premier League games following a €30m (£26.8m) move plus €9m (£7.7m) in add ons.
His time spent warming the bench last season and a potential £22m loss after just one year at the club is seemingly enough for West Ham to want to forget about the whole sorry experience of his short stint in east London, but we do not see the harm in acknowledging Vlasic’s achievements on the biggest stage of all.