The curious case of Jean-Clair Todibo at West Ham is becoming one of the subplots of Julen Lopetegui’s tenure so far.
New boss Julen Lopetegui is already under pressure at West Ham.
But it’s not just down to performances and results after a poor start to the season for the Hammers.
The 57-year-old Spaniard has left supporters baffled with some of his team selections and tactics during the first six games of his tenure.
The West Ham board backed Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten with £155m for nine new signings.
The most impressive of those was arguably centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo.
Steidten somehow managed to beat Juventus to bring the former Barcelona man to east London.
Curious case of Todibo becomes subplot at West Ham
Coveted by a number of top clubs, Steidten convinced Todibo his development would be better served at West Ham under Lopetegui.
Manchester United also wanted to sign the 24-year-old. But the door was opened for the Hammers when UEFA blocked that move due to INEOS’ involvement at both Nice and Man United.
After all the hype, the Frenchman is yet to start a Premier League game for West Ham.
And he was hauled off by Lopetegui at half-time when he did start in the cup against Bournemouth.
Todibo’s lack of action comes despite the error-prone performances of Konstantinos Mavropanos.
He joined West Ham on loan from Nice with an obligation to buy.
The obligation clause is triggered as soon as Todibo makes five Premier League starts.
West Ham boss has doubts over Todibo toughness
The fact he is yet to make one gave rise to conspiracy theories that he is not fancied by Lopetegui or that the club have cold feet about paying the £30m fee to make the move permanent.
That was until an astonishing revelation to Hammers News at the weekend after Todibo was once again left on the bench in a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.
The top spokesman inside the club revealed that Lopetegui doesn’t believe Todibo is ‘tough enough’ for English football yet.
“Rightly or wrongly the manager thinks Todibo is not tough enough for the Premier League at the moment,” the source close to the owners told Hammers News.
“But he deserves games.”
Now West Ham star Todibo has responded in the worst possible way to the Lopetegui doubts over his toughness.
UEFA put out a video montage of Todibo last week showing his array of skills and pace.
It left many fans – not just of West Ham – asking the same question: ‘How is he not starting?’.
Ahead of the Carabao Cup clash at Liverpool, Lopetegui was asked whether fans could expect to see Todibo and Carlos Soler in action.
But the West Ham boss played down their chances, suggesting they’re still not ready.
Todibo responds in worst way to Lopetegui doubts
“It’s true we have a lot of new players, and some who are new to England, but we are one team,” Lopetegui said.
“They (Todibo and Soler) are still adapting, but we’re working for everyone to be able to contribute throughout the season.”
After it was revealed Lopetegui thinks Todibo lacks toughness, the French defender is surely trolling the manager with what he wore in training ahead of the Liverpool game.
The weather has been horrendous in England this week with the heavy downpours.
But most West Ham players were pictured wearing their usual training outfits at Rush Green.
Todibo, though, was barely recognisable – save for his eyes and number 25 on his kit.
After having his toughness questioned, the centre-back can be seen wearing tracksuit bottoms, gloves, a jacket, not one but two snoods, and a big hat leaving only his eyes showing.
Perhaps not the best way to show you’re a centre-back ready for the rigours of English football.
Especially after that’s been called into question by the manager.
All eyes will now be on Lopetegui’s team selection for Liverpool. If Todibo is left out again then big questions will start to be asked.
Related Topics