Da Costa: I’m the Man (uel)
MANUEL DA COSTA is determined to repay West Ham for rescuing him from his Serie A nightmare. The 23-year-old joined the Hammers last week as part of the deal that sent Savio Nsereko to Fiorentina, bringing to an end a miserable spell in Italy. Da Costa fa
MANUEL DA COSTA is determined to repay West Ham for rescuing him from his Serie A nightmare.
The 23-year-old joined the Hammers last week as part of the deal that sent Savio Nsereko to Fiorentina, bringing to an end a miserable spell in Italy.
Da Costa failed to settle in Florence after moving from PSV Eindhoven, where he had emerged as a promising defender under Ronald Koeman.
He made just one league appearance for the Viola before being shipped out on loan to Sampdoria, where the centre-half also struggled.
Da Costa suffered a fresh blow when he was omitted from Fiorentina's Champions League squad last month, and the Portugal international is desperate to revive his career at Upton Park.
He said: "I have spoken to Gianluca Nani and Gianfranco Zola and they want to give me an opportunity to relaunch my career.
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"For me now the most important thing is to establish a place in the team since I have come from a period in which I played very little. I want to convince Zola and the technical staff that I am a player they can count on."
Da Costa has fond memories of his previous experience of English football after playing for PSV in a 2006 Champions League match against Liverpool. "I remember when I played for PSV against Liverpool it was a fantastic atmosphere," he recalled.
"In English football the passion of the supporters really appeals to me. I am excited to be playing in London.
