West Ham star Emerson Palmieri has told Gazzetta dello Sport that he chose the Hammers ahead of Nottingham Forest.
The defender moved from Chelsea to the Londoners this summer for £13 million; rejecting a move to the City Ground.
Forest signed Renan Lodi on loan from Atletico Madrid to bolster their left-back options in the summer.
They turned their attention to the Brazilian after Emerson had opted against a move to the club.
The 28-year-old is hardly considered a regular in the team just yet at West Ham.
He’s been an unused substitute in the last three Premier League games but has been a regular in the Europa Conference League campaign.
Now, he’s been discussing his decision in the summer and hinted that he turned down Forest.
He told Gazzetta dello Sport: “I never received any offers from Serie A. Only Premier League teams were interested in me.
“I chose West Ham. And I am very happy.”
Emerson has plenty of Premier League experience.
He made 71 appearances for Chelsea but failed to really nail down a regular place in the team there.
Now, he’s moved to West Ham and he will be keen to oust Aaron Cresswell from the left-back position.
Emerson chose West Ham over Forest
You have to say that his decision looks like a wise one.
Forest are rooted to the foot of the Premier League table with a -20 goal difference just for good measure.
Admittedly one of Forest’s two wins this season did come against West Ham but still, he looks to have made the right call.
All is not lost yet but this season was always going to be tough for the Reds.
The Premier League looks as competitive as ever and Forest will do extremely well to stay up.
Emerson would have been a useful signing for Forest.
He definitely fits the profile of a wing-back more than a full-back and it’s easy to see why the Reds wanted him.
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